WASHINGTON _ A new Democratic analysis suggests the party's eventual 2020 presidential nominee has an overlooked opportunity to win over voters in rural America, potentially halting a decadelong slide with a slice of the electorate that has shifted decisively toward the GOP.
The analysis itself is replete with caveats and faces deep skepticism from top Republicans and even some Democrats, who doubt President Donald Trump is losing ground in a region of the country that includes his most devoted supporters. But it might nonetheless reshape the common understanding of how Democrats can win next year's presidential election _ and points to a possible vulnerability for Trump and the GOP.
The Democratic analytics firm Catalist recently published a review of the 2018 midterm elections using data gleaned from voter files, a state-by-state report that offers the most detailed look yet at turnout in last year's races.
