The White Working Class Today: Who They Are, How They Think and How Progressives Can Regain Their Support

In the aftermath of the 2012 elections some progressive commentators have drawn the mistaken conclusion that the Democratic coalition no longer needs to win the support of any significant number of white working class Americans. The high turnout and pro-Democrats tilt of youth, minorities, single women and upscale professionals in 2012 has led some political strategists to imagine a new "Obama coalition" that does not need to include white working Americans.

Andrew Levison's remarkable new book dramatically challenges this false notion and presents a compelling case that winning the support of a substantial group of white working class Americans remains absolutely critical for the creation of a stable Democratic majority.

The book very dramatically shows:

• That white workers remain a critical swing group in American politics.
• That white workers represent a far larger part of the workforce than is often thought.
• That white workers are not all "conservative" but include many progressives and moderates as well.

The book presents extensive data drawn from demographic analysis, opinion polls, focus groups and field research to buttress its dramatic conclusions.