When I was working for a Democratic campaign in 2004, I saw "Step 7" firsthand.

One of our campaign workers was an ex-Republican, who started thinking differently while working as a volunteer for a local food bank.  At first, he saw just the usual homeless people coming in for help.  Then, he started seeing people like himself, who had lost jobs and had no savings.

Then, his grown son lost his job and moved back in with the parents.

Shortly after that, he showed up to volunteer for us.

All politics, as they say, is local.