What makes Indiana so conservative?

[FerrisBueller86]

The state hasn't voted Democratic since 1964.

I know Indiana is conservative, but so are the rural areas of the surrounding states.

SIDE NOTE: How do you post those maps speculating on various hypothetical presidential races?  I'm brand new to this forum.

[Alcon]

Welcome!

I might as well answer your second question quickly. To make maps, you use the calculator:

http://www.uselectionatlas.org/USPRESIDENT/evcalc.php?year=2004

Right-click ont he image and go to properties. Then you can copy the address for the image. Put it in this format:

[ img](address)[ /img]

Except remove the spaces between the brackets. For instance:

[ img](state image)[ /img]

[A18]

As to your first question, people in Indiana like freedom.

[danwxman]

I think because there's a large rural and suburban population. Some areas are very rust belt though, like Terre Haute. I don't see it voting Democrat anytime soon (unless Bayh?) but it does seem like Indianapolis is turning more Democratic.

[Alcon]

Indianapolis is true - we actually flipped Marion County this year. But it probably won't help unless we nominate Bayh.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Cornbelt+Scary Suburbs

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Because it's very similar to the rural parts of the states it borders. The difference is that unlike Illinois, Ohio and Michigan, it doesn't have super Democratic areas to make up for it. Illinois has Chicago and liberal downstate places like Rock Island. Ohio has Cleveland, and a huge union territory on the north coast. Michigan has Detroit and some other union areas. Indiana's largest city is Indianapolis which is much more conservative than any of the listed ones, and much more like Cincinnati than the above. And the suburbs are EXTREMELY Republican, much more than the above states as well. So the only Democratic areas are inner city Indianapolis, Lake county, Bloomington and to some extent Terre Haute, and they are simply outvoted by a wide margin.

[dca5347]

Because it's very similar to the rural parts of the states it borders. The difference is that unlike Illinois, Ohio and Michigan, it doesn't have super Democratic areas to make up for it. Illinois has Chicago and liberal downstate places like Rock Island. Ohio has Cleveland, and a huge union territory on the north coast. Michigan has Detroit and some other union areas. Indiana's largest city is Indianapolis which is much more conservative than any of the listed ones, and much more like Cincinnati than the above. And the suburbs are EXTREMELY Republican, much more than the above states as well. So the only Democratic areas are inner city Indianapolis, Lake county, Bloomington and to some extent Terre Haute, and they are simply outvoted by a wide margin.

That's probly the best explanation I have ever seen,GJ

[muon2]

Because it's very similar to the rural parts of the states it borders. The difference is that unlike Illinois, Ohio and Michigan, it doesn't have super Democratic areas to make up for it. Illinois has Chicago and liberal downstate places like Rock Island. Ohio has Cleveland, and a huge union territory on the north coast. Michigan has Detroit and some other union areas. Indiana's largest city is Indianapolis which is much more conservative than any of the listed ones, and much more like Cincinnati than the above. And the suburbs are EXTREMELY Republican, much more than the above states as well. So the only Democratic areas are inner city Indianapolis, Lake county, Bloomington and to some extent Terre Haute, and they are simply outvoted by a wide margin.

That's probly the best explanation I have ever seen,GJ

I agree, well said.

[Calthrina950]

Because it's very similar to the rural parts of the states it borders. The difference is that unlike Illinois, Ohio and Michigan, it doesn't have super Democratic areas to make up for it. Illinois has Chicago and liberal downstate places like Rock Island. Ohio has Cleveland, and a huge union territory on the north coast. Michigan has Detroit and some other union areas. Indiana's largest city is Indianapolis which is much more conservative than any of the listed ones, and much more like Cincinnati than the above. And the suburbs are EXTREMELY Republican, much more than the above states as well. So the only Democratic areas are inner city Indianapolis, Lake county, Bloomington and to some extent Terre Haute, and they are simply outvoted by a wide margin.

In the time since this post was made, Indiana delivered a shock win to Barack Obama in 2008. A few things have changed. The suburbs of Indianapolis, while still Republican, aren't as heavily Republican as they once were. Bush got 74% in Hamilton County, while Trump won it with only 52% of the vote last year. Marion and Monroe Counties have become more Democratic, but Lake County has become less Democratic-it went from 61-38% Kerry to 57-42% Biden. Moreover, Vigo County (Terre Haute) is now Safe R, and is no longer a swing county, and Indiana's rural areas have in general become more Republican.