How did Reagan Democrats vote post Reagan?

[Nym90]

Stan Greenberg did a lengthy study on this focused on Macomb County, MI, which he concluded after the 2008 election.

[Nym90]

Stan Greenberg did a lengthy study on this focused on Macomb County, MI, which he concluded after the 2008 election.

Here's his op-ed announcing the end of the study: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/opinion/11greenberg.html?_r=0

[Nym90]

I think a lot of political junkies overestimate the extent to which ideology is determinative of vote choice.

Reagan was the most charismatic Presidential candidate perhaps ever (which shouldn't be a surprise, considering that he was a professional actor). Many voted for him due to personal characteristics. Most of those "Reagan Democrats" haven't voted for another Republican since.

However, it is true that many who identified as Democrats but voted for Reagan were too conservative for the modern Democratic party and are thus now Republicans, or at least independents.

So overall, I would say they are a swing group.