BOMA International's National Issues Conference in Washington D.C. - Ron Brownstein Presentation

Click here for an interesting summary of a presentation by the keynote speaker at the BOMA International's National Issues Conference in Washington D.C. , Ron Brownstein, Political Director of the Atlantic Media Company. His major theme was that the country’s changing demographics do not support much of a future for the Republican Party unless it changes its focus substantially. Here are the highlights:

• The 2008 election ended a long state of parity between Democratic and Republican parties, with a total of nine states changing from “red” to “blue".
• Obama’s garnering of 53% of the popular vote was based on high levels of discontent with Bush and a desire for change. Leveraging off this disillusionment, Democrats built a “coalition of ascendant,” attracting voters from key growing segments of the U.S. population.
• Republicans dominated only among blue-collar, working-class whites. Better-educated, more affluent white voters--historically Republicans--voted for Obama.
• The “red Democrats” are a group of 22 legislators from states that voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004 elections. Obama’s aggressive agenda will test the mettle of them and their constituencies. Like canaries in the coal mine, red Democrats are being watched as indicators of the Obama's administration’s ability to push through change.
• Over-confidence in pushing his agenda could be Obama’s Achilles’ heel, resulting in a loss of blue states back to red in 2010.