Why is a working-class Dem such a big surprise to them? The mindless allegience of union voters and Blacks, in return for pretty much nothing but lip service, is what has kept the Democrats going since 1960. A whole branch of my family is a reliable Democrat voting block because they are Irish Catholics north of Chicago, lots of well-to-do trade, transportation, and public sector (fire dept., post office, etc.) employees in the mix, they are basically hereditary Democrats...not that the national Democratic Party has ever done a frickin' thing that worked to their benefit, of course.