The essential question to answer is whether or not there are actually two parties in American elections or one party with two branches.

Clearly not all candidates are the same and there are neoconservative republicans and very liberal democrats at the other end of the other end of the political spectrum whose ideologies are completely different.  These extreme wings in most parties do not represent the mainstream in either party.  In comparing both parties, the focus should be on the mainstream.

The single most important determinant in predicting the actions of both parties once in office is the source of their funding.  Election campaigns are extravagently expensive and without corporate funding, campaigns would flounder.  Both parties and presidential candidates receive huge amounts of corporate funding and hence are beholden to big business.

Both parties are also receptive to corporate lobyists who are influential in the formulation of legislation. Both the Democrats and Republicans subordinate serving the public interest to serving the interests of big business.

There is really only one party in the United States, the Business Party.  There are some differences on social issues but other than that the differences are imperceptible.

All the nattering and blathering about a horse race is a substitute for talking about the real problem with the system and about real issues.

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