Charlie Kirk's death shows how the political center of the country is slowly fading away

The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has ignited a debate about whether there is room for a political center.

Fewer and fewer people seem to identify as moderate today than even a decade ago, and politicians are rarely aiming their messages to such voters.

Twenty-four years ago, as the country reeled from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the electorate seemed to prefer leadership over party and someone who could bridge the divide and produce results.

In the days following 9/11, even Democrats rallied behind then-President George W. Bush and then-New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who has in recent years become the butt of Democratic jokes.

Now, political observers acknowledge, it is the voices on the left and the right who receive the most attention, drive news