Reply #5: There is definitely something to your observation.

[BillZBubb]

The main reason, I believe, is that the Repugs will fight tooth and nail, using any tactic no matter how foul. Democrats feel some innate need to be fair minded, even when it costs them.

Another problem is consistency. All Repugs repeat the same party line in unison and never stray from the script. They gain traction and reinforcement by repetition. The Democrats, on the other hand, are all over the place. Their surrogates freelance instead of sticking to the intended talking point. In essence, they undercut each other.

Male voters (on average) respect fighters and don't pay as much attention to who is right or wrong, especially if the issue is murky.