LogFAQs > #979917711

The more educated you are the more likely you are to be left leaning. The richer you are, the more likely you are to lean right. The more religious you are, the more likely you are to lean right. The idea that poor people are more right leaning is a myth and statistics don't back that up, even when poor people tend to be less educated.

They also use social insecurities like immigration and racism to keep their foot in the door. Noam Chomsky put it this way, Conservatism is a ragtag team of misfits. 4 main groups that would be too unpopular to stand on their own teaming up together, so they form an alliance with each other and look past each others' flaws, that they undoubtably don't really like. These are the pillars of the party. These groups are

Gun owners
Very religious people
Rich people
Racists

This was said 10 years ago, and the party has shifted more towards fascism since then, so I don't know how relevant it is anymore. The theory is that a Conservative is likely one of these core things primarily while not caring much about the others, but there are some that do just act completely out of their interests. I think it's a good way to look at things.

I've known devout religious people that detest the way Trump talks about Mexicans, but overlook it because he's pro-life, and they've been taught from a young age that abortion is murder.