“Useful idiots is my best description.”
Call them whatever you like. There are more of them then there are of us. So, unless you know a kind of math that I wasn’t taught, winning elections is impossible without them.
The recent gallup breakdown is:
R - 20 I - 47 D - 30
If only we could nominate a ‘moderate’ candidate...someone like a McCain or a Romney, we’d win for sure because it would attract lots more moderates! /s
My point was that your math is irrelevant (and “moderates” do not equate to “independents”). It is the GOPe that continues to champion “moderates” as the primary target for campaigns. That is the teachings and strategy of Karl Rove (who in my opinion can drop of the face of the Earth straight into Hell at any time).
The so-called moderates aren’t interested in being convinced by conservatives. They vote (i) their emotions - how compassionate their view themselves and (ii) the market “pocket book” - redistribution that feeds their personal compassion/piety.
The best strategy is to get patriotic Americans back in a mood to vote. Moderates aren’t the target.
The “Reagan Democrats” weren’t “moderates”, they believed in a prosperous USA and Reagan delivered.
Them winning elections is possible without us?