Doesn't really matter who was first but it is a dead strategy now.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_strategy

Any hint of racism and the media pounces and the word gets out.  It will be interesting to see if Congressman Pittenger gets re-elected in NC after his stupid and racist comments yesterday.  The words stupid and racist go together like "peas and carrots" or peanut and butter.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/24/us/charlotte-protests-robert-pittenger.html?_r=0