Bush carried 97 of the nation's 100 fastest-growing counties

[A18]

Bush carried 97 of the nation's 100 fastest-growing counties, most of them "exurban" communities that are rapidly transforming farmland into subdivisions and shopping malls on the periphery of major metropolitan areas.

Together, these fast-growing communities provided Bush a punishing 1.72 million vote advantage over Democrat John F. Kerry, according to a Times analysis of election results. That was almost half the president's total margin of victory.

 "These exurban counties are the new Republican areas, and they will become increasingly important to Republican candidates," said Terry Nelson, the political director for Bush's reelection campaign. "This is where a lot of our vote is."

These growing areas, filled largely with younger families fleeing urban centers in search of affordable homes, are providing the GOP a foothold in blue Democratic-leaning states and solidifying the party's control over red Republican-leaning states.

They also represent a compounding asset whose value for the Republican Party has increased with each election: Bush's edge in these 100 counties was almost four times greater than the advantage they provided Bob Dole, the Republican presidential nominee eight years ago.

In states like Ohio, Minnesota and Virginia, Republican strength in these outer suburbs is offsetting Democratic gains over the last decade in more established — and often more affluent — inner-tier suburbs. As Democrats analyze a demoralizing defeat in this month's presidential election, one key question they face is whether they can reduce the expanding Republican advantage on the new frontier between suburbs and countryside.

read article>>

Thoughts?

[danwxman]

Many inner-ring and older suburbs are now urbanizing and becoming more liberal.

[A18]

Bush's edge in these 100 counties was almost four times greater than the advantage they provided Bob Dole, the Republican presidential nominee eight years ago.

That's not really a sign they're becoming more liberal. Unless you're Shira, in which case VA is trending Democrat because we've increased our percentage of the vote in three straight elections.

[danwxman]

Bush's edge in these 100 counties was almost four times greater than the advantage they provided Bob Dole, the Republican presidential nominee eight years ago.

This is irrelevant.

[A18]

They're becoming more liberal and yet voting more Republican?

[danwxman]

They're becoming more liberal and yet voting more Republican?

The inner-ring suburbs tend to be in the same county as the major city....while the fastest growing counties are often outside of the major city.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

more reason why I fcking loathe suburbs.

[danwxman]

more reason why I fcking loathe suburbs.

Agreed. I'm all for a suburban tax.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

That's a great idea. Anything to force people back into the cities. Suburban sprawl is a cancer.

[A18]

I'd be willing to support that if a constitutional amendment was also passed requiring that citizens own 1/5 of an acre of land to vote.

[Sam Spade]

Actually one of the best theories is that most of these people were already in the older suburbs and moved out to these newer exurbs.

This in turn made the older suburbs more liberal, as they were more likely to be replaced by minorities, who were more likely to go Democrat.

If you got rid of the exurbs and tried to force these people back in, they would make the cities and older suburbs more more conservative.

It would also drive home prices up considerably and create a greater expanse between upper and lower classes (see California, Oregon, New York on this, for example)

[bgwah]

One time, I ventured far far away on the edge of metro Seattle. There was this 8 lane high way, on one side was a casino and the other was a giant giant parking lot, and way in the distance was Wal-Mart. There were Republicans camping in the parking lot. I needed some food so I went in (first and last time in a Wal-Mart). There was dog poop on the floor.

NASCAR also wants the state to give them 200 million dollars to build a track there.

[opebo]

One time, I ventured far far away on the edge of metro Seattle. There was this 8 lane high way, on one side was a casino and the other was a giant giant parking lot, and way in the distance was Wal-Mart. There were Republicans camping in the parking lot. I needed some food so I went in (first and last time in a Wal-Mart). There was dog poop on the floor.

NASCAR also wants the state to give them 200 million dollars to build a track there.

Hilarious Jesus!  I enjoyed that evocative anecdote of suburbia.  It truly is a mind-bogglingly horrible place.  Never has man gone to so much money and trouble to build something so unpleasant so inefficiently.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Since the suburban boom of the '50's, fast growing areas have always had a notable Republican lean.

This isn't news

[Engineer]

Yep, cities are sooooo much better.

More crime.

Higher taxes.

More pollution.

More corruption.

The list goes on and on.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

far superior to such a sterile and bland life.

[bgwah]

Yep, cities are sooooo much better.

More crime.

Higher taxes.

More pollution.

More corruption.

The list goes on and on.

Lots of that "pollution" comes from suburbanites driving 4 hours every day just so they can have their precious front yard, but the only time they get to use it is when they are doing yard work.

Corruption? You'll have to go a little bit into detail on that one.

Higher taxes? I don't know anything about that so I won't say much, but considering all the expenses you save not taking care of a large house, yard, a car, gas, insurance, etc, it could very well be cheaper!

Crime, that depends on the city. And which neighborhood you're in, since some are as safe as anything in the suburbs and others, well, aren't. But you know, if you live in a high rise apartment building, the chances of your home being broken into are almost 0, but in the suburbs its much higher. I also read once that you have a better chance dying in a car related accident in the suburbs than you do being "murdered" in the city.

[minionofmidas]

Bush's edge in these 100 counties was almost four times greater than the advantage they provided Bob Dole, the Republican presidential nominee eight years ago.

Of course, that's (to a large part) because they've grown a lot since then.

[MODU]

more reason why I fcking loathe suburbs.

Agreed. I'm all for a suburban tax.

Uhhhhh . . . NOT!  You can never get me to move into the city.  Nothing beats living on acres of beautiful land surrounded by 80+ foot tall trees and a stream flowing behind the house.  All the city has to offer is pollution, violence/crime, and poor health. 

[Filuwaúrdjan]

more reason why I fcking loathe suburbs.

Agreed. I'm all for a suburban tax.

Uhhhhh . . . NOT!  You can never get me to move into the city.  Nothing beats living on acres of beautiful land surrounded by 80+ foot tall trees and a stream flowing behind the house.  All the city has to offer is pollution, violence/crime, and poor health. 

Suburbanisation caused most of these problems. And it's destroying rural America

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

the suburbs are to blame for urban decay. That's why they are evil.

[danwxman]

more reason why I fcking loathe suburbs.

Agreed. I'm all for a suburban tax.

Uhhhhh . . . NOT!  You can never get me to move into the city.  Nothing beats living on acres of beautiful land surrounded by 80+ foot tall trees and a stream flowing behind the house.  All the city has to offer is pollution, violence/crime, and poor health. 

That's rural, not suburban. I love rural areas as well.

[MODU]

more reason why I fcking loathe suburbs.

Agreed. I'm all for a suburban tax.

Uhhhhh . . . NOT!  You can never get me to move into the city.  Nothing beats living on acres of beautiful land surrounded by 80+ foot tall trees and a stream flowing behind the house.  All the city has to offer is pollution, violence/crime, and poor health. 

That's rural, not suburban. I love rural areas as well.

I live 3 miles from what was the worlds largest outlet mall.  hehehe . . . it just so happens that my little piece of rural is in suburbia.    And now . . . I've found 23 acres 2 hours South of me which is truly rural for chump change.    Right on the water, covered with trees.  Once I find out if there has been any test wells dug on it, I might put in a bid. 

Gotta love VA!

[danwxman]

more reason why I fcking loathe suburbs.

Agreed. I'm all for a suburban tax.

Uhhhhh . . . NOT!  You can never get me to move into the city.  Nothing beats living on acres of beautiful land surrounded by 80+ foot tall trees and a stream flowing behind the house.  All the city has to offer is pollution, violence/crime, and poor health. 

That's rural, not suburban. I love rural areas as well.

I live 3 miles from what was the worlds largest outlet mall.  hehehe . . . it just so happens that my little piece of rural is in suburbia.    And now . . . I've found 23 acres 2 hours South of me which is truly rural for chump change.    Right on the water, covered with trees.  Once I find out if there has been any test wells dug on it, I might put in a bid. 

Gotta love VA!

I live right on the edge of rural and suburban. It's disgusting to see the beautiful farms and countryside eaten up by suburban McMansions. But I am in an interesting spot. I can drive 10 minutes and be in downtown Harrisburg or drive ten minutes the other way and be in Alabama

[Alcon]

It depends on the city just as it depends on the suburb. Both can be quite nice. Anyone who admits that there are not benefits to both is being ridiculous or must live near some hellish cities/suburbs.