in 1969, kevin phillips argued in "the emerging republican majority" that support from southern whites and growth in the south, among other factors, was driving an enduring republican electoral realignment. in the early 21st century, the south was generally solidly republican in state elections and mostly solidly republican in presidential contests. in 2005, political scientists nicholas a. valentino and david o. sears argued that partisanship at that time was driven by disagreements on the size of government, national security and moral issues, while racial issues played a smaller role.