There has long been a latent desire among the older, white, affluent Democratic leadership to run it as a center-right party, using the radicalized GOP as a lighting rod for negative partisanship. "No matter how bad you think we are, they're worse."
While out of power, Trump must seem like a godsend as someone who rightfully attracts so much fear and hatred, theoretically giving them a backstop with Democratic voters while they govern as the conservatives they want to be.