Jennifer Jaques at Guilty Planet discusses an interesting idea:
Since the 1960s, studies have shown that behavior does not change merely as a result of information, even if it is fear inducing. Behavior can change if information is combined with an action plan. In a 1965 study ... showed students the somewhat terrifying results of contracting tetanus, which resulted in 3 percent of the students getting a tetanus shot. Other subjects were given the same lecture but were also given a copy of a campus map with the location of the health center circled. ... In this case, 28 percent of the students managed to show up and get their tetanus shot. The medical message seemed to influence attitudes but a specific plan influenced action.
Conservatives certainly have the fear part down whether its science or healthcare. And it's easier to package fear in cutesy soundbites for distribution when disinformation and dishonesty -- delivered intact and unexamined by friendly or clueless media -- is included in the product. But I'd go further and speculate that another reason antiscience pundits in general succeed is because they do offer their listeners an action plan on the heels of fear. Loudly and proudly. Support for the creationist school board, attend so-and-so conservative church, vote for crazy right-wing nutbag who rejects climate change, etc. All of which is no doubt made easier by right-wing anti-science candidates who's words and actions draw a sharp contrast between themselves and their opponents.
With notable exceptions, democratic politicians and/or science friendly conservatives don't seem to be as effective at drawing a unified contrast between "us" and "them". Much less promoting candidates or orgs that could help. Instead, the science side, and especially democratic politicians who support it, too often seem to try and straddle the fence, run away from their base, and worst of all behave as though they harbor a pathological need for unrequited respect from the very ideologues and voters who will reject them intensely no matter what they do.
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