Nassau v. Staten Island

[revas]

Hello,

Those two counties seems to have similar demographics : consequent Italian-American population (40% in SI, the most Italian American county in the nation), motly white, subruban and in NYC metro area.

So why is Nassau far more to the left than Staten Island ?

2004 :
*Nassau :
Kerry : 52,25%
Bush : 46,63%
*Staten Island :
Kerry : 42,75%
Bush : 56,41%

2000 :
*Nassau :
Gore : 57,93%
Bush : 38,49%
*Staten Island :
Gore : 51,94%
Bush : 44,96%

I think it's because Staten Island underwent massive developpement quite recently (with the Verrazano Bridge), and thus is closer in voting patterns to exubs than to first generation suburbs like Nassau, but i'm not very satisfied by this explanation. Many Staten Island voters come from heavily democratic neighborhoods of Brooklyn, so they should be quite liberal, no ? Is the Catholic Church more influent in Staten Island than in Nassau ?

Moreover, Democrats are stronger in registration in Staten Island (40% to 30% for Republicans) than in Nassau. It doesn't make sense to me...

[revas]

The two counties aren't that similer...

Renting: SI 36.2%, N 19.7%
With bachelor's degree or higher: SI 23.2%, N 35.4%
Italian: SI 37.7%, N 23.9%
Median HH Income: SI $55,039 N $72,030
With Median HH Income under $35,000: SI 31.0%, N 21.4%
With Median HH Income over $100,000: SI 19.3%, N 32.3%
Employed in Managerial/Professional occupations: SI 35.0%, N 41.0%
Employed in Blue Collar/Service occupations: SI 34.6, N 28.5%
Employed in Public Sector occupations: SI 22.3%, N 17.1%

Well, SI voters are more likely to rent their home, more likely to have low income and more likely to work in the public sector than Nassau voters, but anyway, they are more likely to be Republican voters....

I wonder if the Italian American Catholic vote can explain that, as SI has a bigger percentage of Italian Americans than Nassau, and is more conservative on social issues. I can't see another reason to explain Si Republican vote in federal elections.

[revas]

The two counties aren't that similer...

Renting: SI 36.2%, N 19.7%
With bachelor's degree or higher: SI 23.2%, N 35.4%
Italian: SI 37.7%, N 23.9%
Median HH Income: SI $55,039 N $72,030
With Median HH Income under $35,000: SI 31.0%, N 21.4%
With Median HH Income over $100,000: SI 19.3%, N 32.3%
Employed in Managerial/Professional occupations: SI 35.0%, N 41.0%
Employed in Blue Collar/Service occupations: SI 34.6, N 28.5%
Employed in Public Sector occupations: SI 22.3%, N 17.1%

Well, SI voters are more likely to rent their home, more likely to have low income and more likely to work in the public sector than Nassau voters, but anyway, they are more likely to be Republican voters....

I wonder if the Italian American Catholic vote can explain that, as SI has a bigger percentage of Italian Americans than Nassau, and is more conservative on social issues. I can't see another reason to explain Si Republican vote in federal elections.

Staten island did vote Democratic in 96 & 00, and more than likely will vote Dem in 08, 04 was due to the 9/11 effect.   The larger Italian American Catholic Vote in Staten Island may explain it a bit, but keep in mind Nassau County,, while not as Italian as Staten Island has one of he heaviest concentration of Italian Americans and catholics in the entire U.S and itt is quite socially liberal

I understand that SI's vote for Bush in '04 was due to the 9/11 effect, but what I don't understand is why it votes anyway less democratic than Nassau. I think Nassau has also a bigger Jewish population, who tend to vote heavily democratic, but is it enough to explain the gap between these two countries ?