Counties where Obama 2012 < McGovern 1972

[buritobr]

I though that there was a small list. But when I looked at the Texas counties, I saw that more than half of the counties in this state gave more votes to McGovern 1972 than to Obama 2012. Nixon won 66-33. Romney won 57-41. But in 1972, Dallas and Harris were close to the average of the state. In 2012, these countries were much more D than the rest of the state. In many low populated counties, Obama had between 15% and 25%, and McGovern had between 20% and 30%. In Kentucky, there were some McGovern Romney counties.
Considering the 40 Dem vs. Rep which happened since 1856, Obama 2012 had the 40th best result for a Democrat in many white rural counties in the South. Maybe, Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders will have the 41th best result for a Democrat in these counties.

Counties where Obama 2012 < McGovern 1972 were not located only in the South. In Minnesotta, there were some McGovern Romney counties.

[SingingAnalyst]

Knott County, KY voted Dem every election through 2004, then voted 55/44 McCain in 2008. In 1984 they had given Mondale 72%. I wouldn't be surprised if SD has some McGovern-Romney counties too.

[SingingAnalyst]

The fact that most large counties, in any region, had a more or less uniform swing 1972-2012 makes the existence of a few "anti-bellwether" small counties statistically feasible. Many large counties had a much larger Dem swing than average; for example, Orange Co, FL which went 80/20 for Nixon in '72 and comfortably for Obama twice. (It was also one of only two Dole-Gore counties in the country, the other being Clark, MD).

[Mr. Smith]

Much of inland Northern California still favored Democrats even in '72, like the Solid South the more conservative ones went to Nixon in '60 and '68.

Some McGovern-Romney counties include: Plumas, Sierra, and Shasta

As for others that fit the example: Lassen, Amador, Placer, Colusa, Modoc, Siskiyou, Tehama, El Dorado, Yuba

All of these counties are Northern-inland counties.

[Kevinstat]

Clark, MD

That county doesn't seem to exist...

I remember from a blog of Dave Leip's back in 2001 (or maybe 2002) that it was Charles County, MD.

[SingingAnalyst]

Clark, MD

That county doesn't seem to exist...

I remember from a blog of Dave Leip's back in 2001 (or maybe 2002) that it was Charles County, MD.

Thank you, I stand corrected. It was Charles, MD that joined Orange, FL as the only two Dole-Gore counties in the US.