States where candidates can win with retail politics

[illegaloperation]

In which states are seats still won by retail politics?

For example, Heidi Heitkamp beat Rick Berg because she is better able to connect to voters and literally went all over the state to solicit votes.

[Flake]

Any state with under two million people.

[JerryArkansas]

Any state with under two million people.

Not always true, here in Arkansas retail politics really helps candidates.  That's why Pryor is doing horrible in the polls, not getting out to the voters.

[Orser67]

I like this topic.

New Hampshire, Iowa, South Dakota, Montana, North Dakota, West Virginia, Arkansas, Alaska, Indiana, and Kentucky all seem like likely candidates.

[RedSLC]

I'd imagine it plays more of a role in predominantly rural states.

While politicians campaigning in predominantly urban states can campaign in the urban centers and have the voters come to them, in states with a lot of rural voters, the people will be more spread out across the state, meaning that it won't be as easy for them to go to campaign events themselves (especially if they don't have a means of transportation).

Thus, they will be more likely to appreciate the politician coming to them, not only because it helps them easier understand the candidate, but it also gives them a sense that the candidate understands them, and cares about them enough to consider their opinions.

[Flake]

Any state with under two million people.

Not always true, here in Arkansas retail politics really helps candidates.  That's why Pryor is doing horrible in the polls, not getting out to the voters.

I didn't invalidate the other 36 states

[ElectionsGuy]

States like West Virginia come to mind. Really, you can do this in a lot of states, it just depends on the culture and atmosphere. Its definitely not something you do in New York or Massachusetts.

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

Idaho
Montana
Wyoming (Though it'll probably hurt Liz Cheney)
Montana
North Dakota
South Dakota
Nebraska (Bob Kerrey to an extent)
Oklahoma (Brad Henry)
Alaska (Begich)
Iowa (Obama & Santorum)
Arkansas
West Virginia
Maine
New Hampshire
Vermont

[Zioneer]

If Matheson runs for Governor in Utah, he can definitely win through retail politics.

[Miles]

States like West Virginia come to mind. Really, you can do this in a lot of states, it just depends on the culture and atmosphere. Its definitely not something you do in New York or Massachusetts.

Statewide, at least.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

States like West Virginia come to mind. Really, you can do this in a lot of states, it just depends on the culture and atmosphere. Its definitely not something you do in New York or Massachusetts.

Retail politics is very much possible in Massachusetts, it's just that it's all done within the state Democratic Party apparatus (and Republican Party apparatus in those parts of the state in which that's relevant). General election campaigns are less amenable to it, although both Scott Brown's defeat of Martha Coakley and Elizabeth Warren's defeat of Scott Brown involved at least some element of one candidate simply seeming better able to interact with different groups of voters on a personal level than the other.

And it's the main way of doing politics on the local level or state-legislative level, but that's true pretty much anywhere.

Vermont works well for retail politics. Bernie Sanders worked on building political and personal relationships for a decade before he started winning races.

[ElectionsGuy]

States like West Virginia come to mind. Really, you can do this in a lot of states, it just depends on the culture and atmosphere. Its definitely not something you do in New York or Massachusetts.

Statewide, at least.

States like West Virginia come to mind. Really, you can do this in a lot of states, it just depends on the culture and atmosphere. Its definitely not something you do in New York or Massachusetts.

Retail politics is very much possible in Massachusetts, it's just that it's all done within the state Democratic Party apparatus (and Republican Party apparatus in those parts of the state in which that's relevant). General election campaigns are less amenable to it, although both Scott Brown's defeat of Martha Coakley and Elizabeth Warren's defeat of Scott Brown involved at least some element of one candidate simply seeming better able to interact with different groups of voters on a personal level than the other.

And it's the main way of doing politics on the local level or state-legislative level, but that's true pretty much anywhere.

Vermont works well for retail politics. Bernie Sanders worked on building political and personal relationships for a decade before he started winning races.

Yes. You can use retail politics pretty much anywhere, but its just more applicable to certain places and races than others. I shouldn't have said it doesn't happen in MA or NY, but its easier to do in states like IA, KY, AR, etc.

[nolesfan2011]

Most Applicable to:
Nevada, Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Arkansas, Minnesota, Alabama, South Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts

[Del Tachi]

Mississippi.