"It is the patriotic myth feel good factor, which will trump the facts every single time."

Absolutely. When it comes to the Democrats and the Republicans, it is always the party that can most effectively use the patriot myth feel good factor which will win the election. It is the candidate who most effectively embodies the patriotic myth feel good factor who wins.

Raw emotion and general but quite vague impressions based on raw emotion will beat out facts with not much trouble at all in an American election, because it's an emotional drama, just like the dramas you see all the time on TV shows. Emotion always drives the plot. Facts just get in the way...and they bore people.