So Scott Walker and Rand Paul have each won separate polls.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

This seems to speak to me the GOP is prepared to make a significant move to the right in 2016.

That being said, does that give the Democratic party the space to move further left or dos that create a vacuum in the middle for a more centrist position?

Frankly, I would be at a loss if I were asked to find a single potential Democratic candidate that was NOT solid on the issues of gender issues, social justice, marriage equality, immigration reform, economic equality, etc. The question then becomes: How much of the unclaimed middle do we need to worry about if the GOP is pushing hard and fast to the right?

If the GOP jettisons the centrists and independents do we really need to dilute our positions in order to win them or should we fight for what we know are the best policies? Do we really need to coddle corporations while trying to explain away the embarrassments of past military adventurism?

We keep hearing that over zealous demands of purity will be our undoing but if the GOP is going undiluted RW what better opportunity will we see again to get the best of the best?

[HereSince1628]

1. This time of the cycle they play to their activists who tend to be more extreme

they will move away from that as things turn serious and consideration of first avg republicans and then average Americans become the target of their work.

My money is on Bush plus a radical to hold the republican libertarians. I've thought that could be Bush/Walker but Walker is stumbling pretty badly on his early performances

[SheilaT]

2. I want to think you, and all those who think

this rightward march can't be sustained, but I have my doubts.

We need far more people understanding that the policies of the Left are the policies that support the middle and working classes, that health care shouldn't be a scarce privilege only for the few, that no one working full time should go hungry, or be homeless, that unions are a good thing.

I've seen some of the comments people have left for that sheriff in Arizona who doesn't believe in the ACA, but does believe that total strangers should give him money to pay for his medical bills. They're pretty harsh, as he deserves. But I wonder if he will change his mind in the end, and will finally get it about which political party actually gives a shit about people like him. I'm not going to hold my breath.

[Agnosticsherbet]

3. Since 2006, Independents have voted against the party in the White House.

2006 amd 2008, they Democrats took independents.

2010, 2012, and 2014 a majority of independtens voted Republican.

(Note: in 2008 Obama won a majority of independents. In 2012 Romney won a majority of independts.)

If this trend holds true, a majority of independents will support the Republicans. A majority tends to oppose the party in power.

The Republcians are heaivly right wing, and I doubt any voters left behind could be convinced to vote Democratic.

Certainly no left behind Republican would vote for Hillary Clinton. The Clinton name is reviled on the right. They certainly would not vote for Bernie Sanders due to their Knee Jerk reaction to socialism.

[Dawson Leery]

4. The GOP nomination is up in the air.

The party is more divided on it's future than it was in 2011.