the party mood was glum in 2013 and one conservative analyst concluded: it would be no exaggeration to say that the republican party has been in a state of panic since the defeat of mitt romney, not least because the election highlighted american demographic shifts and, relatedly, the party's failure to appeal to hispanics, asians, single women and young voters. hence the republican leadership's new willingness to pursue immigration reform, even if it angers the conservative base.