>Equally, if not more amazing is the perceived mobility; those
>perceiving themselves as upwardly mobile voted Gore, those who were
>downwardly mobile or stuck in the same position voted Bush.
>Interestingly, downwardly mobile also voted for Nader more frequently
>than those upwardly mobile (4 vs 2%).
I think you're misinterpreting.
Remember Clinton's very effective "It's the economy, stupid" campaign. I don't have time to look up the numbers, but I'd bet you'd see the opposite result with those you're calling "upwardly mobile" voting for Republicans (the incumbent party in 1992). Isn't it a pretty established dynamic: people vote with their wallets. If they're doing better, they want to keep the party that's already in power, get rid of it if they feel downwardly mobile. Politicians play on that by asking, "Are you better off today than you were four years ago?"
Kelley