In fact, that they have been engaging in it ever since the GOP embraced the segregationists back in the late 60s with the Southern Strategy. It just happens that they engage in white identity politics.
This is how identity politics are being expressed in this campaign: after 8 years of Bush, a failed war in Iraq, with a terrible economy, with gas prices at $4 a gallon, McCain/Palin is ahead in the polls.
What changed from two weeks ago? The GOP brought in Sarah Palin, a person whose only qualification is that a vast majority of white middle and lower class people can identify with her because she holds a bible in one hand and a gun in the other.
And white voters identifying with Palin over her bible, whiteness, and guns are trumping their personal reality of a worsen economy.
In a rational world, McCain should be 20 points behind Obama at this point. In our imperfect world, he should be slightly behind. However, he is ahead.
This is seriously making me reassess the viability of this country.