THE NATION - Housing crisis tests loyalty to GOP

Along with a great many "For Sale" signs are new ones that say "Foreclosure." A few weeks ago, she was startled by a bright orange sign that said "Auction."

The national downturn in the housing market has arrived in Loudoun County, a once-largely rural area on the western fringes of Washington that has become one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States. In addition to the economic effect, it's stirring anxiety and discontent that have begun to change the climate in which people consider politics -- especially some Republicans.

"I used to consider myself a Republican, but now I consider myself an independent," Schroeder said.

The shift is not confined to one county in the mid-Atlantic region. Similar rumblings of discontent can be heard among GOP voters in fast-growing areas across the country that are being hit by the housing crunch, including parts of Florida and Nevada.

For Republican strategists, the change is particularly troubling because, as recently as 2004, high-growth exurban areas like Loudoun County were fertile ground for GOP organizers, who rallied conservative volunteers from churches and community groups to turn out new voters. It was primarily in such areas that Republican strategists beat Democrats at their own game -- registration and voter turnout.

In 2004, Loudoun County voted to reelect President Bush by 56%, compared with 44% for Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.). The nine-member County Board of Supervisors consists of six Republicans, one Democrat and two independents, both of whom are former Republicans.

With local elections scheduled for today, however, the ranks of independents and Democrats appear to be growing. There are as many lawn placards supporting Democrats as Republicans in Schroeder's neighborhood.

The shift away from the GOP is partly the result of more liberal voters moving into the county from Washington and Democratic suburbs. But the housing crisis is also playing a substantial role, eroding the loyalty of some longtime Republicans.

As Schroeder assays today's vote for members of the county board, she says that for the first time in her life, she is considering voting for a Democrat.