Just to put it out there... does anyone think that the Palins had any cultural resonance here, as hoped?
No. I sure as hell didn't see it. Nor do I see where Palin would appeal anyway, believe it or not people here don't vote thinking "OMG, this candidate's running mate is from another state that's cold and snowy! I'm voting for them for sure!" People vote on things that actually matter.
Well I'd think the connection would be more the accent and small town values, but it's true that Minnesota small towns are a lot more liberal than Alaska small towns. And sounding like Frances McDormand in Fargo, while charming to many Minnesotans, is, as you say, not something they are going to vote on.
Al had a good point; wealthy voters in Minnesota did not swing to Obama as much as they did in most other states. It's one of the few states left in which the suburbs are still more Republican than the rural areas, on balance.
The convention might have had some impact, too. And the close Senate race might've motivated the GOP base to turn out in higher levels than in many other states.
