Yeah, I agree with the other posters on here. New England just loves outsiders and moderates.
You can see it in how well John McCain did in the NH Primary in 2000. Maine was also among Nader's best states in 2000 (5.7%), Perot's best state in 1996 (14.19%). Eugene McCarthy also scored one of his best showings there in 1976 with 2.25% of the vote.
John Anderson's best states in 1980 were (in order) Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Connecticut. Two of Barry Commoner's top 5 states were Maine and Vermont.
It must be something in the water.
