The decline of Southern white support for the Democratic Party during the period 1958-1980 can be explained entirely by the defection of racially conservative whites. There is essentially no role for income growth or (non-race-related) policy preferences in explaining why Democrats "lost" the South.

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The decline of Southern white support for the Democratic Party during the period 1958-1980 can be explained entirely by the defection of racially conservative whites. There is essentially no role for income growth or (non-race-related) policy preferences in explaining why Democrats "lost" the South.