Blue state turning red

[greenforest32]

I voted Wisconsin, clearly the trends will benefit the REP in another 10 years or so.  2nd choice, I picked Oregon, but the west part of the state (Portland area) will prevent that from happening anytime soon. That will counter balance east Oregon which votes much like Idaho.

You do realize Eastern Oregon contains 20% (or less depending on which counties you count) of the state population right? Most of those counties have flat/negative population growth and high unemployment rates. There's not a single city out there with more than 20,000 people in it.

Wait till gas prices hit $6/gallon. Eastern Oregon is dead.

[LastVoter]

I voted Wisconsin, clearly the trends will benefit the REP in another 10 years or so.  2nd choice, I picked Oregon, but the west part of the state (Portland area) will prevent that from happening anytime soon. That will counter balance east Oregon which votes much like Idaho.

You do realize Eastern Oregon contains 20% (or less depending on which counties you count) of the state population right? Most of those counties have flat/negative population growth and high unemployment rates. There's not a single city out there with more than 20,000 people in it.

Wait till gas prices hit $6/gallon. Eastern Oregon is dead.

I think the bigger problem is the emerging population center there(Bend) is already tied politically without much of a minority presence. It makes sense that it would become even more democratic if it keeps growing. If you compare it to big cities in Eastern Washington that are large and still growing, they are either Republican strongholds(Tri-cities), a lot larger(Spokane), or dominated by minorities(Yakima).

[greenforest32]

I voted Wisconsin, clearly the trends will benefit the REP in another 10 years or so.  2nd choice, I picked Oregon, but the west part of the state (Portland area) will prevent that from happening anytime soon. That will counter balance east Oregon which votes much like Idaho.

You do realize Eastern Oregon contains 20% (or less depending on which counties you count) of the state population right? Most of those counties have flat/negative population growth and high unemployment rates. There's not a single city out there with more than 20,000 people in it.

Wait till gas prices hit $6/gallon. Eastern Oregon is dead.

I think the bigger problem is the emerging population center there(Bend) is already tied politically without much of a minority presence. It makes sense that it would become even more democratic if it keeps growing. If you compare it to big cities in Eastern Washington that are large and still growing, they are either Republican strongholds(Tri-cities), a lot larger(Spokane), or dominated by minorities(Yakima).

While Bend is growing and is in Deschutes County (Deschutes County is in Central Oregon (basically Eastern Oregon-lite) and is the fastest growing county in Oregon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deschutes_County,_Oregon#Demographics), I don't think it will be a problem.

I think the city is going to top off at about ~175/225k people and become a swingish city. Kind of like Spokane, WA.

[LastVoter]

I voted Wisconsin, clearly the trends will benefit the REP in another 10 years or so.  2nd choice, I picked Oregon, but the west part of the state (Portland area) will prevent that from happening anytime soon. That will counter balance east Oregon which votes much like Idaho.

You do realize Eastern Oregon contains 20% (or less depending on which counties you count) of the state population right? Most of those counties have flat/negative population growth and high unemployment rates. There's not a single city out there with more than 20,000 people in it.

Wait till gas prices hit $6/gallon. Eastern Oregon is dead.

I think the bigger problem is the emerging population center there(Bend) is already tied politically without much of a minority presence. It makes sense that it would become even more democratic if it keeps growing. If you compare it to big cities in Eastern Washington that are large and still growing, they are either Republican strongholds(Tri-cities), a lot larger(Spokane), or dominated by minorities(Yakima).

While Bend is growing and is in Deschutes County (Deschutes County is in Central Oregon (basically Eastern Oregon-lite) and is the fastest growing county in Oregon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deschutes_County,_Oregon#Demographics), I don't think it will be a problem.

I think the city is going to top off at about ~175/225k people and become a swingish city. Kind of like Spokane, WA.

Spokane metro is 600k, and only recently did Spokane county become swing. Bend is getting there with about 200k. Only other place in Eastern PNW that could do that is probably Yakima because it's majority hispanic(soon).

[freepcrusher]

i don't see why everyone is saying Wisconsin. Let's accept it for what it is: a swing, maybe slight blue state similar to New Mexico. 2010 was just an abnormally bad year. The state will always have somewhat of a progressive tradition, largely due to the Scandinavian population. After all, this is where the Charles LaFollettes and Gaylord Nelsons of the world came from.

[Nichlemn]

i don't see why everyone is saying Wisconsin. Let's accept it for what it is: a swing, maybe slight blue state similar to New Mexico. 2010 was just an abnormally bad year. The state will always have somewhat of a progressive tradition, largely due to the Scandinavian population. After all, this is where the Charles LaFollettes and Gaylord Nelsons of the world came from.

Kansas had a progressive tradition once.

Also, it's impossible for every state to trend Democratic. Some states have to trending Republican, and Wisconsin seems like a logical choice.

[TeePee4Prez]

Why is Michigan doing so poorly in this poll?  The factors in place now are awfully similar to western PA circa 1980s->present.  Michigan would be my choice FAR more than PA.