Liberal lions in deep red states

[TDAS04]

Western Democrats can actually be quite progressive, especially on such issues as the environment, and are often anti-establishment. A McGovern, a Church, or a Hart often appealed to enough people to win, but not so much in more pro-establishment red states back East and down South. Also a reason why Bernie Sanders fared so well out west against Hillary Clinton.

[TDAS04]

McGovern, Bayh, and Church all lost in 1980. Ironically, Church’s 1-point loss in Idaho was as narrow as that year’s reelection victory for a “conservative lion” in the conservative state of Arizona.