[Leaning Right]

There is a distinction between the union leadership and the staff of the union and the rank-and-file members.

That is very true. Union leadership is corrupt, and they run phony, corrupt elections (oh, the stories I could tell).

But most rank-and-file union folks are conservative middle-class Reagan democrats. "Reagan" because Reagan's views make sense to them (even if they don't associate their beliefs with Reagan himself). And "democrats" because they were raised in democrat households.

The GOP leader of today who can tap this group will win in a landslide, just as Reagan did. Unfortunately, I don't think any GOP leader of today is smart enough to do that.

[Maine Mariner]

Exactly. Reagan Democrats is a good term.
In 1972, Nixon received quite a few endorsements from labor unions. The AFL-CIO did not endorse either Nixon or McGovern. Nixon’s share of the union vote was quite high.

But those were different times-even the union leaders were
lunch bucket Democrats. George Meany and many other unions were very anti-communist. That changed in the 1980’s. The older union officials from the local presidents to the top leadership in the AFL-CIO retired or died and were replaced by left leaning officials and now by very left leaders and staff.

The Reagan Democrats are starting to see the light again.
Just look at the results from West Virginia in the just past election.