What adds to the Increasing nationalization of politics

1. South used to be a huge outlier in politics
2. Now, south is more looking like the rest of the country
3. Producing more competition in the political races + tight outcomes
4. At the district level, we don't have as much competition has we had before
   1. Because gerrymandering + republicans draw from rural areas and dems draw from urban areas
5. All adds up to close competition
6. Battlegrounds are getting smaller and smaller
7. Shrinking number of close districts leading to more polarization - moderates being replaces by immoderate voters
   1. Can work both ways
8. Incredibly close margins leads to polarization - Politicians cannot defect, have to stick together + exacerbates the differences
   1. Problem: means were not considering the BEST solution to problems
9. Politicians in power don't treat the minority party badly + don't weight their opinions
   1. Once your treated badly, you lose trust, hard to repair
10. Public hates the party bickering, why Obama and McCain our presidential candidates