A new Gallup poll shows the Republican party going further down to its demographic base -- it is overwhelmingly a party of conservative whites, and is a conservative white religious party as well.

The survey finds that 89% of Republican self-identifiers are white, compared to 64% of Democrats being white. Only 5% of Republicans are Hispanic and 2% black, compared to 11% Hispanics and 19% blacks among the Democratic base. In addition, 63% of Republicans are white conservative, and an overlapping 49% are white and religious.

From the pollster's analysis:

Does the Republican Party in essence "stick to the knitting" and cling to its core conservative principles? Or should the Republicans make an effort to expand their base -- among whites who are moderate or less religious, and/or the various nonwhite groups who to this point are largely ignoring the Republican Party in favor of the Democrats? The decision the party makes in response to this question could be pivotal in helping determine its future.