Liberal , moderate Northeastern Republicans once a strong part of landscape . If you knew that , you understand just how far the Republican Party has fallen in its ancestral homeland of the Northeast , a decline that was underscored by Sen. Arlen Specter 's recent decision to leave the party . Specter 's decision to switch parties raises a host of questions about the GOP . There 's been a slow northern backlash to GOP 's `` Southern strategy , '' Holland says . The party is now more conservative than it was in 2000 and 2004 when Bill Clinton won his first two terms as president.
Liberal , moderate Northeastern Republicans once a strong part of landscape . Specter 's decision to switch parties raises a host of questions about the GOP . There 's been a slow northern backlash to GOP 's `` Southern strategy , '' Holland says . The party is now more conservative than it was in 2000 and 2004 when Bill Clinton won his first two terms as president.