Perhaps the most insightful thing I have heard on this topic is that, “Principled Conservatives cannot get elected without the racist vote.” Some historian on NPR
I am too young to remember much about the Nixon dog whistles, but I clearly* remember Reagan on a stage with Confederate flags on stage and him saying "The South will rise again… "
The reality is that Republitards have always leaned on racists to get them over the top. El Trumpo is perhaps the clearest example ever.
*Clearly - Ahem, I might have been high at the time, but I did not make this up…
