The non-Southern brands of Republicans would never have come back to power during the Reagan administration except for them. They defected from the Dem ranks 25 year ago due to the leftist takeover of the Dem party. I have never been a Dem.
I am a lover of the Constitution, freedom and free association. If that makes me less a “Republican” “so be it”.
Check a map. Reagan could have lost the entire South in both elections and still won handily. Don't claim credit where it isn't deserved.
They defected from the Dem ranks 25 year ago due to the leftist takeover of the Dem party.
They defected from the Democratic ranks when they found they could do so and still keep their big government, big spending ways.