Fear and populism

An election cycle always brings with it heavy doses of populism. Tap into voters' pain, show you understand their fears - in short, try and connect with them on an emotional level, and they might be more likely to vote for you. In past US elections, hot-button issues like abortion, gun ownership, gay marriage, or the war on terror have been enough to arouse people's passions.

But the fact that this election coincides with the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, offers Republican