Why does Bissinger make the statement about political parties on page 42, paragraph 3?

In Chapter Nine, politics comes to Odessa. George Bush makes a stopover, which excites a certain demographic of the population. Really Bush might have skipped visiting Odessa without having to worry about missing out on the white vote. White Odessa was firmly Republican and Conservative.

In context, Bissinger (attempting to stay objective) highlights the fact that although he doesn't completely agree with Bush's economic and social policies, ir is Bush who is will to reach out to the people themselves... to make them feel important and to understand their lives. Bissinger feels that politicians, like writers (himself), should connect to the people and seek to understand their lives.... that the people have a lot to teach politicians about the reality.