That's because they have to believe it ~ they don't know any better but they read the Chicago Tribune and the New York Times for many years and that's the way both those failed institutions looked at it.
In reality American political thought is arrayed in coalitions that together sop up about 99% of all political interest ~ there are only 2 coalitions ~ Republicans and Democrats.
Everybody not inside the coalitions is part of a very thin fringe.
In short, there are no moderates, no independents ~ even if the people think they are, they're not ~ they've made a choice long ago.
A winning Republican has to do two tricks. One is to hold the Republicam base (the greater part of the Republican coalition) AND attract voters who are actually part of an interest that is part of the Democrat coalition.
Going for "the moderates" will lose the Republican base and not really attract Democrats ~ after all, they are NOT moderates at all and have their own interests. The successful Republican candidate next year will keep all the Republican votes and attract people like Maxine Waters on the jobs issue ~ since it will still be around, and may be even worse!
A successful Democrat candidate next year is already out of business ~ the coalition is fractured ~ the public employee unions are going one way and the African-Americans have shifted to JOBS JOBS JOBS, and right they are. With 50% unemployment rates in Detroit, and nearly as high rates in other major cities with a large African American vote, their issue is JOBS. All that other stuff they wanted ain't happening!
But let's say there is a Democrat who could hold the Democrat coalition voters together ~ what would he sell the Republicans on?
Anyone who's looked at the polls knows that NOTHING on the Democrat side is attracting anyone from the Republican base. No Democrat can win election for President without some Republican voters coming over.
Very well said, Mooie.