Red-Blue Roundtable: John Zogby

I think we're moving well beyond red states vs. blue states. Back in 2004, this artificial construct actually defined the election and the nation. We saw in our polling huge differences in demographics, attitudes, and behaviors between citizens of the red states and citizens of the blue states.

This could very well be the year when the old red state vs. blue state paradigm disappears. Frankly there are other demographics that I’m watching, notably the Equinox Voters -- the Spring Aheads, who are the economic winners in key new- economy states like New Hampshire, North Carolina, Florida, New Mexico, and Colorado vs. the Fall Backwards, the victims of the old-economy who are bouncing from lower paying job to lower paying job in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Missouri.

People are buying fewer hardbound books: first and foremost that's a statement on the economy and technology -- other forms of reading cost significantly less. Right-wing books have their devoted following, thus an Ann Coulter or Bill O'Reilly is assured strong sales. While the left has its devoted followers, they seem to show up mainly on the blogs and online.

Those differences still persist but are moving into the background because of the rise of the political center and a growing need by Americans of all stripes for problem solvers not ideologues. That is what over 80% of voters tell us they want -- a problem solver, a competent manager of government, someone who can work with the opposition, and someone who can command the military. Not one of those is ideological or partisan. The most interesting thing to watch this year is not the hyper-partisan rhetoric, but instead the way both major candidates are appealing to the middle. Something worthy of note: there is always a centrist political party waiting to be formed. If either party tilts too far toward its base, the center could rise. Frankly, had this election been about Mitt Romney or Mike Huckabee vs. Hillary Clinton, I think a centrist like Mike Bloomberg running on the characteristics I just noted had the potential to do very well. --John Zogby