The Republicans came across as being out of touch with the concerns of most of the people in the middle of the bell curve. Small things as the world turns, but very major things in their lives. They want, as many studies on this show, smaller but more responsive government. The people, for example, want to be relieved of worrying about how they're going to pay their medical bills. The people want lower taxes but they want the taxes they pay to go into services for them.
Populism is really nothing more than the appeal to the great majority of the people.
These people appeal on a very personal, one on one basis, i.e., I change the oil in my car, I chop wood, I wait in the supermarket line, I'm worried about Little League games, level that appeals to the great numbers of average people in the nation. When they speak, they often speak the thoughts of the average people. And in drawing the wrong lessons, the GOP is becoming even more out of touch with the average people who it needs to gain political power. Let's face it, there just aren't enough plastic yuppie elites out in the GOP's fou fou country clubs to win many elections. If the GOP wants to win, it has to regain the common touch so notable in Ronald Reagan.