North Carolina, the last of the 50 states to certify its election results has just been called for Obama.
+15 electoral votes for Obama from a formerly red, Bush state, though traditionally democratic from the days of the "Solid South"
__________________
"I would not support repeal of Roe vs. Wade, which would then force women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations." Senator John McCain
Source: Ron Fournier, Associated Press Aug 24, 1999
Can we consider this yankee ideology inching its way south? Talk like that could trigger another civil war, especially on a forum like this! All it would take is another state or two that traditionally voted red to turn blue and the blues will have a lock on the electoral college. On the flip side I highly doubt that any traditionally blue states will be turning red anytime soon.
The fastest growing segments of the populations of both Virginia and North Carolina in recent years have been young college educated suburban professionals, a demographic that tends to vote for Democrats. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues and these two states become reliably blue.
This is not just happening in the South. New Hampshire was among the most reliably red states in the country but recently an influx of high technology companies moving into southern New Hampshire from Massachusetts, and the people they bring with them, seems to have turned the granite state solid blue to match the rest of New England. If the Democrats can continue to dominate the Northeast, upper Midwest and West Coast, in addition to making inroads into the South and Rocky Mountain states, it could be a long time before we see another Republican President.
Part of the genius of the Obama campaign was recognizing these demographic trends and the opportunities they offered which resulted in flipping nine states from red to blue. I think the Republicans and the McCain campaign, on the other hand took these states for granted. As a result, towards the end of the race it dawned on McCain that a number of red states would be lost and that his only hope was the long shot attempt to flip the major blue state of Pennsylvania red which ended in failure after a huge expenditure of McCain campaign resources.
Look for the Democrats to try and return West Virginia to the Democratic fold and eventually even flip Texas. McCain's margin of victory in Texas was not that impressive and there are demographic changes going on there as well.
The fastest growing segments of the populations of both Virginia and North Carolina in recent years have been young college educated suburban professionals, a demographic that tends to vote for Democrats.* It will be interesting to see if this trend continues and these two states become reliably blue. This is not just happening in the South.* New Hampshire was among the most reliably red states in the country but recently an influx of high technology companies moving into southern New Hampshire from Massachusetts, and the people they bring with them, seems to have turned the granite state solid blue to match the rest of New England.* If the Democrats can continue to dominate the Northeast, upper Midwest and West Coast, in addition to making inroads into the South and Rocky Mountain states, it could be a long time before we see another Republican President. Part of the genius of the Obama campaign was recognizing these demographic trends and the opportunities they offered which resulted in flipping nine states from red to blue.* I think the Republicans and the McCain campaign, on the other hand took these states for granted.* As a result, towards the end of the race it dawned on McCain that a number of red states would be lost and that his only hope was the long shot attempt to flip the major blue state of Pennsylvania red which ended in failure after a huge expenditure of McCain campaign resources. Look for the Democrats to try and return West Virginia to the Democratic fold and eventually even flip Texas.* McCain's margin of victory in Texas was not that impressive and there are demographic changes going
on there as well.
Excellent summary! I was also surprised of the Texas vote, yet I still think it is highly doubtful that they will ever turn blue completely. But as you said, all the democrats need is to lock in a couple of more states and the republicans will have a hell of a time ever winning again. The republicans got into power again by the graces of the electoral college in 2000, but that may have been their last hurrah as far as the advantages of the electoral college go.
I agree I think if republicans don't start fighting for the hispanic vote Texas will soon turn blue. Due to the influx of people from the south.
Quote:
ORIGINAL: SP10
The fastest growing segments of the populations of both Virginia and North Carolina in recent years have been young college educated suburban professionals, a demographic that tends to vote for Democrats. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues and these two states become reliably blue.
This is not just happening in the South. New Hampshire was among the most reliably red states in the country but recently an influx of high technology companies moving into southern New Hampshire from Massachusetts, and the people they bring with them, seems to have turned the granite state solid blue to match the rest of New England. If the Democrats can continue to dominate the Northeast, upper Midwest and West Coast, in addition to making inroads into the South and Rocky Mountain states, it could be a long time before we see another Republican President.
Part of the genius of the Obama campaign was recognizing these demographic trends and the opportunities they offered which resulted in flipping nine states from red to blue. I think the Republicans and the McCain campaign, on the other hand took these states for granted. As a result, towards the end of the race it dawned on McCain that a number of red states would be lost and that his only hope was the long shot attempt to flip the major blue state of Pennsylvania red which ended in failure after a huge expenditure of McCain campaign resources.
Look for the Democrats to try and return West Virginia to the Democratic fold and eventually even flip Texas. McCain's margin of victory in Texas was not that impressive and there are demographic changes going on there as well.
The national Republican party is really going to have to get its act together. Appealing to old white people over 60 is not going to get it done. The vast majority of young people are smart enough to see the decline in the US standard of living. They see the Republican party as the party of feel good stuff, corruption and red ink: Red ink thatfuture generations will have to deal with.
NC Goes Blue!
