The Stalking-Horse Module
This IDEOLOGIC analysis clearly indicates three major issue clusters defined in the data on California voters. One cluster predominates -- immigration. It stands in as a surrogate issue for a cluster of traditionally defined issue questions involving "other-ness" (gay rights, homosexuality in general, welfare, minority rights, affirmative action, race, hispanic workforce, etc.).
Despite the media attention paid to the California economy, voters did not distinguish candidate choices on the basis of the economy or world affairs (the second strongest cluster). The array of issues into these three clusters gave Wilson the deciding edge in California, but when it came to translating that advantage to the country as a whole, the story is very different.
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