At a time when the leading Republican presidential contenders have refused to even appear in front of a number of groups including African American, Hispanic and young voters, the promises of an inclusive "compassionate conservatism" seem to be a thing of the past. While Bush's low approval numbers account for some of the overall damage to the GOP brand, poll numbers show that the problems Republicans are facing run deeper than President Bush.

As the Wall Street Journal noted, "recent voter surveys, including private polling done by a leading Republican strategist, suggest a broader erosion of Republicans' appeal. In particular, three groups crucial to Mr. Bush's goal of a 'permanent Republican majority' are drifting away: younger voters, Hispanics and independents." [Wall Street Journal, 9/5/07, http://online.wsj.com/]

Even more revealing, poll numbers show the Republican Party's base is shrinking. A recent study by the Pew Research Center indicates two traditionally GOP-leaning groups are now moving away from the Republican Party: young evangelicals and economic conservatives. At the same time, more Americans are identifying with the Democratic Party and trust Democrats on key voting issues.