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Going Red: The Two Million Voters Who Will Elect the Next President--and How Conservatives Can Win Them
The 2016 election is conservatives’ last, best chance to take back the country. How can they win? The answer, conservative columnist and analyst Ed Morrissey says, depends on seven battleground counties in swing states Republicans must win. Each county pulled for Obama in one or both of the last two elections, but after eight years of misadventures under the Obama administration, the door is open for Republicans to win them—and the presidency—once again, making a decisive mandate against progressivism for the generation to come. In Going Red, Morrissey takes readers inside the battlegrounds that will decide the election, weaving together data and the stories of people and leaders in these communities to answer the most pressing questions facing conservatives in 2016: - What went wrong in 2008 and 2012, and how can the party do better in 2016?- Can Republicans take back crucial swing states like Florida, Ohio, and Virginia?- Is a Hillary Clinton victory really inevitable? - How can conservatives reverse their track record with minorities and young voters? Providing an unparalleled look into the campaign and the thinking of experts from both parties, Going Red is a field guide for taking back the White House and an essential book for anyone who cares about the fate of the Right.
- GenresPolitics
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 5, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 8, 2016
Here's how to win a presidential election
If you're a normal presidential candidate, Ed Morrissey's book would offer tactical advice. However, we're living in unusual times.
Nevertheless, Ed's book has insights and lessons for conservatives and Republicans: Don't get too abstract; be a problem solver; actually care about the people you're asking to vote for you.
It's important stuff even if this might not be the time when it's employed.
If you're a normal presidential candidate, Ed Morrissey's book would offer tactical advice. However, we're living in unusual times.
Nevertheless, Ed's book has insights and lessons for conservatives and Republicans: Don't get too abstract; be a problem solver; actually care about the people you're asking to vote for you.
It's important stuff even if this might not be the time when it's employed.
October 10, 2020
All politics is local. Focus on important counties. Don't tell a girl she's ugly then ask her to the prom. The book distills a number of important electoral principles. Focus on the positive. The book has a lot of anecdotes rather than deep or rigorous data analysis, but the principles do seem vital.
June 10, 2017
The surprising turn of the 2016 election year rendered just about everything in this book utterly irrelevant.
April 23, 2016
[Note: This book was provided free of charge by Blogging For Books/Crown Forum Press in exchange for an honest review.]
In reading this book, I was struck by a great surprise in that the first of the battleground counties that the author discussed was a county I know very well—Hillsborough County Florida, a place I know very well. The author commented that even where people have economic motives for supporting Republicans, namely liking to keep their money from a bloated bureaucracy with an insatiable appetite for taxation and increasing burdensome regulations, there are various local factors that have hindered Republican success, like the fact that in New Tampa there is no stable or active community, but rather people working hard to move up and move out, as well as the fact that there has been a failure to locally engage in West Tampa among the heavily Hispanic population there, about which I have a few humorous stories of my own from my time working in that part of town and living nearby. It was intriguing to see the haunts of my teenage and young adult years through the pragmatic eyes of a political operator whose main focus is increasing Republican vote totals and ensuring the election of Republicans to high office on the local, state, and national level.
The contents and structure of this book are consistent and highly intriguing for those who are interested in reading about demographics and political tactics and strategy. Rather than merely content himself to study battlefield states, those few states that seem to decide elections every cycle, he decides to go even more local and examine the seven battlefield counties that he believes will decide the election in 2016. The book begins with a postmortem breakdown at the unpleasant surprise of Obama’s victory in 2012, when there were thoughts that Romney had a lead going into the election. The author then looks at seven counties in seven states with the idea that all politics is local, taking a very granular look, down to the neighborhood level, of the concerns and motivations of voters, of the concerns that they have about Republicans and Democrats, and of the cross-currents that keep them in play for strategists of both parties: Hillsborough County in Florida, Hamilton County in Ohio, Wake County in North Carolina, Prince William County in Virginia, Brown County in Wisconsin, Jefferson County in Colorado, and Hillsborough County in New Hampshire, followed by a brief conclusion about the need for the Republican party to focus on a turnkey operation that allows for locally focused messages that are ready to go for any party and that avoid expensive and alienating television ads that give the same message everywhere, a message that is tone-deaf to the concerns of the ordinary people whose support is being sought.
Although there is much about this book that is fascinating, including the author’s dedication to understanding counties and the neighborhoods that make them and to engage in very extensive ground-based research, the alert and critical reader will note that the author is interested in more than simply Republican victory, but also has a fairly obvious ax to grind in the internecine struggles of Republicans in a support of a conservatarian belief that seeks to reduce taxation, provide for small government that is responsive to the needs of its citizens, and that shows markedly liberal attitudes towards social issues. Here the author misses the mark, in that his focus on political calculations and his lack of interest in moral conservatism make his words one of many who call upon an abandonment of any public call for virtue in our political discourse, which is a massive danger for those of us who have little personal animosity towards a government that is capable of protecting people from exploitation from businesses but who care greatly about the enforcement of godly morality within our society [1]. What is the worth of winning an election at the cost of what remains of our nation’s spiritual health in the public sphere?
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
In reading this book, I was struck by a great surprise in that the first of the battleground counties that the author discussed was a county I know very well—Hillsborough County Florida, a place I know very well. The author commented that even where people have economic motives for supporting Republicans, namely liking to keep their money from a bloated bureaucracy with an insatiable appetite for taxation and increasing burdensome regulations, there are various local factors that have hindered Republican success, like the fact that in New Tampa there is no stable or active community, but rather people working hard to move up and move out, as well as the fact that there has been a failure to locally engage in West Tampa among the heavily Hispanic population there, about which I have a few humorous stories of my own from my time working in that part of town and living nearby. It was intriguing to see the haunts of my teenage and young adult years through the pragmatic eyes of a political operator whose main focus is increasing Republican vote totals and ensuring the election of Republicans to high office on the local, state, and national level.
The contents and structure of this book are consistent and highly intriguing for those who are interested in reading about demographics and political tactics and strategy. Rather than merely content himself to study battlefield states, those few states that seem to decide elections every cycle, he decides to go even more local and examine the seven battlefield counties that he believes will decide the election in 2016. The book begins with a postmortem breakdown at the unpleasant surprise of Obama’s victory in 2012, when there were thoughts that Romney had a lead going into the election. The author then looks at seven counties in seven states with the idea that all politics is local, taking a very granular look, down to the neighborhood level, of the concerns and motivations of voters, of the concerns that they have about Republicans and Democrats, and of the cross-currents that keep them in play for strategists of both parties: Hillsborough County in Florida, Hamilton County in Ohio, Wake County in North Carolina, Prince William County in Virginia, Brown County in Wisconsin, Jefferson County in Colorado, and Hillsborough County in New Hampshire, followed by a brief conclusion about the need for the Republican party to focus on a turnkey operation that allows for locally focused messages that are ready to go for any party and that avoid expensive and alienating television ads that give the same message everywhere, a message that is tone-deaf to the concerns of the ordinary people whose support is being sought.
Although there is much about this book that is fascinating, including the author’s dedication to understanding counties and the neighborhoods that make them and to engage in very extensive ground-based research, the alert and critical reader will note that the author is interested in more than simply Republican victory, but also has a fairly obvious ax to grind in the internecine struggles of Republicans in a support of a conservatarian belief that seeks to reduce taxation, provide for small government that is responsive to the needs of its citizens, and that shows markedly liberal attitudes towards social issues. Here the author misses the mark, in that his focus on political calculations and his lack of interest in moral conservatism make his words one of many who call upon an abandonment of any public call for virtue in our political discourse, which is a massive danger for those of us who have little personal animosity towards a government that is capable of protecting people from exploitation from businesses but who care greatly about the enforcement of godly morality within our society [1]. What is the worth of winning an election at the cost of what remains of our nation’s spiritual health in the public sphere?
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
May 29, 2016
Three concepts struck me as I read this book, which focused on what the GOP needs to do to win the presidency by reviewing seven key battleground states, and in particular on key communities within those states. First that the presidential candidate needs to engage with the community because all politics is local. Nothing new here, isn't that what politicians do? Apparently not, especially Republican presidential candidates like McCain or Romney. The campaign needs to have local surrogates to help them make this point, who are know in the community, who espouse conservative principles, since it is impossible for a national candidate to knock on every door in America.
Next, that Republican presidential candidates need to describe how their pragmatic actions will address the local issues and improve local conditions. Note the theme of all politics is local. Candidates do not need to describe how bad the current situation is, or what is wrong with their opponent, or how bad it might get with the other party's policy. Again, this would seem to be what candidates do, even though the media focuses on the clash of candidates and political parties. Policy gets boring, clash is new every day. However, people with little time, who begin making a decision in the last six months of an election cycle, hear little of the policy differences in the media, the election becomes a clash of personalities, the argument against the opponent's policy, not a contest in favor of a policy.
Finally, Republican candidates need to engage in communities they have ignored, even written off, in the past. Again, all politics is local. Morrissey focused on demographic and population changes as the reason this engagement is necessary; He seemed to be in complete agreement with the meme that the party is old white guys, complainers, and did not need black votes until recently as the demographics have changed; did not need brown faces as tokens, but needed brown faces as local outreach.
What Morrissey failed to notice, what the GOP may be missing, is that a conservative policy for the federal government is what the constitution describes with the enumerated powers; that individual liberty described in the Bill of Rights was the feature that made ratification of the constitution possible; that state governments are the sovereigns, not the federal government. Morrissey writes off the east and west coast strongholds of the Democratic party, and the Democrat's urban strength across the rest of the country. He would be satisfied with 12% of the black voter. 12%! He would make no real attempt to win in California or New York, and many other supposedly solid Democrat states.
Morrissey focuses on 2016. Some conservative Republicans want to focus on 2020 rather than have Trump win in 2016. Trump may be following Morrissey's recommendations, he is pragmatic, rather than policy oriented. I would agree that all politics is local. I would go farther and say that the federal government should not be involved in any of these local issues. The federal government should sustain our liberty through the courts, whether against state government, local governments, or big business, but more importantly the federal government should sustain our liberty through a strong defense of America against all foreign adversaries. The Republican party, and conservatives in general, including libertarians, should engage all demographics in all areas of the country with this message delivered in a way that focuses on practical solutions to local issues.
Next, that Republican presidential candidates need to describe how their pragmatic actions will address the local issues and improve local conditions. Note the theme of all politics is local. Candidates do not need to describe how bad the current situation is, or what is wrong with their opponent, or how bad it might get with the other party's policy. Again, this would seem to be what candidates do, even though the media focuses on the clash of candidates and political parties. Policy gets boring, clash is new every day. However, people with little time, who begin making a decision in the last six months of an election cycle, hear little of the policy differences in the media, the election becomes a clash of personalities, the argument against the opponent's policy, not a contest in favor of a policy.
Finally, Republican candidates need to engage in communities they have ignored, even written off, in the past. Again, all politics is local. Morrissey focused on demographic and population changes as the reason this engagement is necessary; He seemed to be in complete agreement with the meme that the party is old white guys, complainers, and did not need black votes until recently as the demographics have changed; did not need brown faces as tokens, but needed brown faces as local outreach.
What Morrissey failed to notice, what the GOP may be missing, is that a conservative policy for the federal government is what the constitution describes with the enumerated powers; that individual liberty described in the Bill of Rights was the feature that made ratification of the constitution possible; that state governments are the sovereigns, not the federal government. Morrissey writes off the east and west coast strongholds of the Democratic party, and the Democrat's urban strength across the rest of the country. He would be satisfied with 12% of the black voter. 12%! He would make no real attempt to win in California or New York, and many other supposedly solid Democrat states.
Morrissey focuses on 2016. Some conservative Republicans want to focus on 2020 rather than have Trump win in 2016. Trump may be following Morrissey's recommendations, he is pragmatic, rather than policy oriented. I would agree that all politics is local. I would go farther and say that the federal government should not be involved in any of these local issues. The federal government should sustain our liberty through the courts, whether against state government, local governments, or big business, but more importantly the federal government should sustain our liberty through a strong defense of America against all foreign adversaries. The Republican party, and conservatives in general, including libertarians, should engage all demographics in all areas of the country with this message delivered in a way that focuses on practical solutions to local issues.
June 23, 2016
A Path For the Republicans to Win in 2016
From an analysis of the 2008 and 2012 elections, Morrissey found that the result was decided by voters in a handful of counties. The amazing fact is that if 100,000 voters had switched their votes in Ohio, Florida, Virginia, and Colorado the result would have been different.
Based on this analysis, Morrissey, identifies counties in seven states that could make the difference in 2015. He choooses counties in Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin, Colorado, and New Hampshire. In each case he shows how the county voted in 2012 and 2008, how it voted the past statewide election, the make-up of the county, and income level. In addition, and I thought these were the most interesting points, he reports interviews with the county residents and looks at how the Republicans could change the dynamic in 2016.
For me, the most telling interviews were the ones that questioned how much the people running for office cared about the issues that were important to county residents. One man said that he was always being asked to contribute to the Republican Party, but no one had ever asked him about which issues were most important to him. This underscores the fact that people do care about what is happening in Washington and the State House. They do have valid opinions and not everyone is a low-information voter.
I hope the Trump campaign, and whoever the other Republican candidates are, will read this book and take to heart the valid points being made. The election does not have to be lost.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
From an analysis of the 2008 and 2012 elections, Morrissey found that the result was decided by voters in a handful of counties. The amazing fact is that if 100,000 voters had switched their votes in Ohio, Florida, Virginia, and Colorado the result would have been different.
Based on this analysis, Morrissey, identifies counties in seven states that could make the difference in 2015. He choooses counties in Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin, Colorado, and New Hampshire. In each case he shows how the county voted in 2012 and 2008, how it voted the past statewide election, the make-up of the county, and income level. In addition, and I thought these were the most interesting points, he reports interviews with the county residents and looks at how the Republicans could change the dynamic in 2016.
For me, the most telling interviews were the ones that questioned how much the people running for office cared about the issues that were important to county residents. One man said that he was always being asked to contribute to the Republican Party, but no one had ever asked him about which issues were most important to him. This underscores the fact that people do care about what is happening in Washington and the State House. They do have valid opinions and not everyone is a low-information voter.
I hope the Trump campaign, and whoever the other Republican candidates are, will read this book and take to heart the valid points being made. The election does not have to be lost.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
May 5, 2016
At first glance, GOING RED looks like some book for political wonks. I've never read this type of book before but found it fascinating from cover to cover. Ed Morrissey clearly explains what happened in the last two elections and why Barak Obama won the presidency twice. Through research, Morrissey determined seven specific counties are bell weather indicators of the state of the nation. He lays out a game plan for Republicans to win back the Presidency.
As Morrissey asks in the opening, "What happened in the states where Republicans used to win elections? That's the question that this book seeks to answer." (Page 9) I loved his conclusion in the final pages: "What will it take to win? Three qualities came across clearly in all seven battleground counties. First, voters want a principled but pragmatic approach to governance...Next, optimism wins out for voters in these battlegrounds...Finally, voters want to know that the candidate understands them and has empathy for their concerns." (Page 201 to 202)
The research and information in this book were fascinating. I enjoyed reading it and highly recommend it.
As Morrissey asks in the opening, "What happened in the states where Republicans used to win elections? That's the question that this book seeks to answer." (Page 9) I loved his conclusion in the final pages: "What will it take to win? Three qualities came across clearly in all seven battleground counties. First, voters want a principled but pragmatic approach to governance...Next, optimism wins out for voters in these battlegrounds...Finally, voters want to know that the candidate understands them and has empathy for their concerns." (Page 201 to 202)
The research and information in this book were fascinating. I enjoyed reading it and highly recommend it.
April 12, 2016
Closer to a 4.5.
Ed Morrissey is best known for his work on Hot Air, the conservative news site, but this book ended up being a surprisingly great, well-researched primer on the upcoming election.
Why does this work? It's more like a basic electoral roadmap about some of the most important areas for Republicans and how they can win. It's so well put together that it will work well as a historical document in a few cycles, and gives enough tips and information to work for years beyond as well.
The downside? In a year with Donald Trump making such great inroads, we'll never really get to see the extent of the value of this work.
Honestly, there's not a ton to say about this. The appeal is for conservative election wonks and movement types who are looking for in-depth information about Republican electoral options. Beyond that, it might not be much, but, for myself, I really found a lot to enjoy and digest in this. A pleasant, wonderful surprise.
Ed Morrissey is best known for his work on Hot Air, the conservative news site, but this book ended up being a surprisingly great, well-researched primer on the upcoming election.
Why does this work? It's more like a basic electoral roadmap about some of the most important areas for Republicans and how they can win. It's so well put together that it will work well as a historical document in a few cycles, and gives enough tips and information to work for years beyond as well.
The downside? In a year with Donald Trump making such great inroads, we'll never really get to see the extent of the value of this work.
Honestly, there's not a ton to say about this. The appeal is for conservative election wonks and movement types who are looking for in-depth information about Republican electoral options. Beyond that, it might not be much, but, for myself, I really found a lot to enjoy and digest in this. A pleasant, wonderful surprise.
May 27, 2016
A a regular reader back in the day of the political blog "Captain's Quarters" and then Hotair.com (a daily read for me to this day), I was really looking forward to Ed Morrissey's first book, "GOING RED". about what the GOP needs to do in 2016 to win. Morrissey has done his homework, focusing on seven counties that together, "hold the key to 90 electoral votes" and probably the election in November. Each county is discussed in detail, with vital information revealed through interviews and research that the national GOP needs to hear and understand as the general election nears post June 7th. Hopefully Team Trump reads this book before too long and takes Morrissey's election "manifesto" to heart.
As a special note, my dad and brother purchased a *signed* copy for me at the New York City Barnes and Noble soon after its release! Thank you! :)
As a special note, my dad and brother purchased a *signed* copy for me at the New York City Barnes and Noble soon after its release! Thank you! :)
October 16, 2016
A journey into what it would take for republicans to win in 2016 delivered as vignettes of a set of swing counties. While the descriptions are interesting, the prescriptions grow repetitive by the end. Written before the rise of Trump the path the book suggests contrasts starkly with how we see 2016 playing out in reality.
June 13, 2016
A very well researched book full statistics, analysis and interviews.
June 13, 2024
Just a wave top look at about 10 swing counties. Most importantly, my county was one of them.
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