Internal and external forces on the parties

FIGURE 11.2 External and Internal Forces on the Parties THE PULL TOWARD EXTREMISM Democratic . . Republican . . Democratic Republican . . Party act1v1sts . , . , Party act1v1sts . cand1date 3 candidate s . and elites . . . . and elites posmon pos:tion Liberal Moderate Conservative Republican primary voters, party elites, and contributors are conservative, pulling Republican candidates toward conservative positions. Democratic primary voters, party elites, and contributors are liberal, pulling Democratic candidates :oward liberal positions. THE PUSH TOWARD MODERATION General electorate Republican candidate’s position Democratic candidate’s position Liberal Moderate Conservative In the general population, most voters are moderate; their preferences push candidates toward political moderation.