WV-PPP: All Republicans ahead of Obama

[Filuwaúrdjan]

how did Dukakis win west Virginia?

The Democratic Party in the 1980s was much more of a class-based party than the Democratic Party these days. There are other reasons as well, but that's the main thing, really.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The coal miners dominated the state's politics then.

Employment in the coal industry actually collapsed in the 1980s as almost all of the large underground mines were closed. The industry now - as in most other places - is dominated by small drift mines (yeah, that's not the American term, but you know what I mean) and various forms of opencast mining.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I remember Al mentioning some time ago that the outgoing GOP governor had a massive scandal that may have helped out Dukakis.

I'd probably tend to downplay that now (my views on what influences elections having changed somewhat) but all the stuff swirling around Moore (who was up for re-election and lost by nearly 18pts. Maybe that's why his daughter is so reluctant to run statewide?) can't have hurt the Democratic ticket. Moore had also done some other very unpopular things (mostly to do with workers compensation IIRC) and only won the Republican primary (against the inevitable Raese) by 6pts.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

... the coal industry ... now - as in most other places - is dominated by small drift mines (yeah, that's not the American term, but you know what I mean) and various forms of opencast mining.

Does 'various forms of opencast mining' include the very large mines that are, by my very inattentive understanding, the source of much of the coal produced in developed countries, from places like Wyoming and Australia?

Yeah; basically coal quarries. Of course the geography of the central Appalachian coalfield means that you have some very unusual forms of opencast mines.