10 takeaways from exit polls

[marylandblue]

Some surprising answers. Voters agree with Democrats on a lot of issue. A majority even think immigrants help the country. But you can see the basis of Trumps strategy - He won voters who thought immigration is the top issue by over 50 points.

Take away immigration somehow, and Trump loses his biggest issue.

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/11/trump-house-midterms-exit-poll-takeaways.html

[LonePirate]

1. There is only one take away regarding exit polls: ignore everything about them.

[LoverofDawgz]

2. We've known that.

On issues, at least leaving out the culture war stuff, voters overwhelming agree with Democratic positions. The problem becomes once you put a Democratic or liberal association with it. 40 years of rightwing radio and fox news and I think after last night we have to face facts. Democrats have been framed out of even consideration by entire segments of voters. They have reliable base of footsoldiers from scared Faux retirees to evangelicals thinking they're doing God's work that are conveniently distributed in low-population but equal Senate representation regions.

Truly I think we could message much better on some of the culture issues, but regardless, the GOP did not (deliberately) reverse the alignment of voting Republican in former Democratic strongholds from the Ohio Valley to the South to the farmlands of Iowa without a major strategic effort and getting it back (and we MUST get much of it back if we want to see the daylight of running the country again) will take the same effort and patience.

[John Fante]

3. "immigration" is code for shitting on minorities.

Take away Trump's bigotry and he implodes like a dying star.

[marylandblue]

5. I think immigration is a key issue

And we can make tradeoffs that help secure the border in exchange for amnesty for people already here.

[LoverofDawgz]

6. agree

I hate to say it but I think we blew it on the messaging of immigration. We were right of course on being against separating kids from their parents, but by letting that frame our position, we fell for the GOP bait of wanting it to look like we cared more about Immigrants than Americans.

People being concerned about immigration in a nation where affordable housing is already premium and one economic downturn can have tens of millions (if not hundreds of millions) destitute again is reasonable. Even crime committed by immigrants is a reasonable concern (which is not condoning the GOP hysteria and race baiting whatsoever). Wanting controlled and lawful immigration is reasonable. Wanting immigrants to assimilate into our culture and language is also reasonable. All of which Democrats DO want. It was our messaging and bait taking, letting the hard left go nuts with ICE abolishment, et al that went south per se.

We just have to get much smarter about this.

[marylandblue]

7. Exactly, but I do think we can do it for 2020

We have to pick up the banner of comprehensive immigration reform. We can't let them paint as the party of "open borders."

Obama tried, but he didn't have a Congress to work with. Even Bush II tried, but his own party wouldn't work with him.

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Most Dems knew this

was Trump's go to card. He said two years ago he would use the Brown Skin People for reelection fodder. And he did.