What or who were the Reagan democrats?
Irrelevant question, which I'll explain, after I answer the question: they are mostly dead or registered Republicans now, but they were conservatives who finally figured out, under the brilliant rhetoric of Reagan, that they were conservative and that Reagan was their man. They also wanted strength after Jimmy Carter's weakness.
Now, why doesn't this question matter? Because the key is how Reagan won those Democrats, and it DAMNED SURE wasn't by parroting liberal Democrat talking points.