discuss connecticut.
this state swung pretty hard to the dems during the 90s.
there may be some subtle signs that the trend may be stabalizing or even slightly moving back to the right.
by the way mods, can we get a sticky reminding people not to go out of order when starting these threads?
Two reasons why Conn. appeared to move to the right in 2004:
1) 9-11
2) no Lieberman on ticket in 2004
The state is safe for Dems unless the Republicans nominate a moderate.
Very Accurate! Those are exactly the reasons. If it weren't for those 2 events, CT may have voted 60% Kerry.
I get the sense that Connecticut is a state whose elections are decided by suburban voters, and suburban voters certainly fit the profile you've laid out for the state of CT.
The state is almost entirely suburban, 3,500,000 people with no city bigger than 140,000. There are some towns with less than 5,000 people but they are almost as liberal (politically) as the rest of CT.
Social Issues reign supreme in many of the suburbs, they don't trust bible-thumpers, which is partly why Jimmy Carter lost in '76. Religion here is a private issue. The fact that the Republican Party is dominated lock, stock and barrel by people not only from a different region but an entirely different culture means only further success for the Democrats in Connecticut. Rowland, Rell and Shays are in no way socially conservative and that is why even I like them, although I never voted for any of them, and I like John more than Jodi.