Politics is Driven by Economics
Democrats, according to Pew, retained an advantage on less tangible qualities such as empathy, honesty and a willingness to compromise.
As attractive as those characteristics are, they are not top priorities for voters. Both Pew and Gallup have found that, except in times of crisis – for example, in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks — voters’ top priorities consistently include bread-and-butter issues, jobs and the economy.