So there is a sizeable base of socially traditionalist, economically populist voters to be had. Unfortunately, the partisanship scolds invariably cater to exactly the opposite demographic: elites who favor free trade, open immigration, cutting entitlements, and social tolerance. ~Jonathan Chait

Think of it this way: we have large numbers of voters interested in a sort of Webb-Dobbs-Buchanan worldview and, on the other side, an endless supply of tiresome Obamas telling us that we just need to put aside our differences, work together and have hope.  No wonder the public is disenchanted!  The “centrists” who want to move beyond partisanship are actually interested in overrepresenting still more those views and interests that are already overrepresented in this country.