The debate concerning campaign finance reform aside, the chart below is quite startling.



Since 1994, the percentage of households earning more than $100K has risen 12% (from 4% to 16%), which is not all that surprising given the trend in income over the last several years. What is fairly surprising is the dramatic decline in those high-earners who identify themselves as Republicans, plummeting 12% since Bush's post-9/11 high of 45%. Meanwhile, those calling themselves Democrats has risen slightly in that time, implying that while some have gravitated over from the GOP, the majority have simply left the GOP to remain party-less or independent.

Fortunately, as I wrote last week, the majority of these Republican defections are seeing the world through a more moderate to liberal lens. Hopefully they've permanently seen the light.