An article published October 19 in The Hill examines several elections in the South where Democratic candidates have close ties to Bill and Hillary Clinton in states such as Arkansas and Kentucky. The article mentions how it may be difficult for Democratic candidates in those states to distance themselves from an unpopular current president.
Thomas Schaller, professor and chair of political science, was interviewed for the article and said, “I’m constantly puzzled when other people are surprised that there hasn’t been this Democratic revival in the South.” Schaller has argued that Democrats should make the South less of a priority in winning elections, adding, “my feeling is that the underlying fundamentals in the region work against the Democrats.”
Schaller said Hillary Clinton is the Democrats’ best chance to win in the South in 2016, but even if she’s successful, it wouldn’t necessarily mean significant changes for Democratic strategy in the South.
“I think she’s a good test case for how competitive the Democrats can be in the South, because she can pair her husband’s appeal in the more rural South and presumably draw support in the places where Obama did well,” Schaller said. “If she can’t start flipping states, then who is?”
To read the full article in The Hill, click here.
Tags: CAHSS, PoliticalScience
