The Future of the Republican Party
Compared to all the excitement in 2008, there was very little enthusiasm four years later for Obama’s re-election. Yet on the other side, there was almost a sense of disappointment for Romney’s candidacy. During the mid-term elections, amidst the hype of the Tea Party and Republican takeover of Congress, it seemed like the presidential race would prove to be a thrilling ride, but the election in 2012 was disappointingly routine. However, events surrounding the nomination process and leading up to the election have set the stage for the possibility of a realigning election in the near future.
In the days following the election, it was repeated over and over that Mitt Romney’s loss to President Obama signaled the end is nearing for the Republican party and a new period of Democratic dominance was coming. The same happened in 2008 with the election of Obama. Enthusiasm for the Democratic party was high in the early stages of Obama’s first term, however hope for the future of the GOP came with the rise of the Tea Party. Beginning in small town hall meetings across the country, the Conservative movement rapidly gained momentum in opposition to Obamacare. Town hall protesters quickly organized into a nation-wide grassroots movement that resulted in the GOP retaking the House in the midterm elections. At that point, it appeared that the progressive movement was possibly finished. With Obama’s re-election, it is clear that the Democratic Party is still strongly unified. Still, both parties are facing scrutiny now more than ever, and there is a real possibility that dissatisfaction of both parties leaves the door open for other possibilities in the next few election cycles.
By looking at Mayhew’s fifteen characteristics for a realigning election, the possibility for a realignment in the near future seems greater than it has been in