1. Thomas Frank, What’s the Matter with Kansas (2004) and Andrew Gelman, Red State, Blue State, Rich State, Poor State (2008)
N. R. Miller
POLI 423

2. Kansas is a relatively poor state.
Most of its population is hurt by conservative policies, would be helped by Democratic ones.
Yet it is one of the most reliably Republican states in the nation.
Republicans have won working class support by appealing to “cultural wedge issues like guns and abortion.”
Moreover, the Kansas pattern has to some extent been replicated nationwide, creating a “dominant [Republican] political coalition”

5. What Is Going On? “Wal-Mart [or Sam’s Club] Republicans”?
“Trust fund Democrats”?
What’s The Matter With Kansas? How Conservatives Won the Heart of America? (Thomas Frank)
Are we that far beyond the New Deal electoral alignment?
Actually -- No

7. Bartels examines Frank’s thesis using ANES data
Frank is really referring to white working class voters.
Definition of “working class”?
Occupation
Income
Education
Self Placement
Bartels examines Frank’s thesis using ANES data
First version of paper used Income, to which Frank objected
Published version uses Education (no college degree)

11. Bartels (cont.)
Moreover, in so far as “white working class support” for Democrats has declined, the effect is almost entirely confined to the formerly [Democratic] “Solid South”
In so far as cultural issues have increased in importance relative to economic (class) issues, the effect has been much greater among (upper) middle class voters than working class voters.
Many middle/upper class voters in blue states are socially liberal and vote Democratic, many fewer in red states.

12. Uses 2000 and 2004 National and State Exit Polls
Plus ANES
Andrew Gelman et al., “Rich State, Poor State, Red State, Blue State: What’s the Matter with Connecticut,” Quarterly Journal of Political Science (March 2007)
The following charts are all from the 2000 National and State Exit Polls.

20. 2004: If Only Middle $ Voted

21. 2004: If Only Rich Voted

22. 2004: If Only Poor Voted

23. Rich vs. Poor States/ Rich vs. Poor Voters