Alabama vs. Mississippi

[Figueira]

What are the main differences between these two states, aside from different racial makeup? I often hear Mississippi described as being the more conservative of the two; are the white people there more solidly Republican for some reason?

[100% pro-life no matter what]

They're very similar, except for the fact that Alabama is whiter and, therefore, more Republican.  In both states, the white vote is around 90% Republican.  Now, the one slight difference is that Alabama has some educated, well-off, ideologically conservative suburbs around Birmingham that Mississippi doesn't really have.

[smoltchanov]

Not by much. IIRC Mississipi's whites voted about 10% Obama in 2012, Alabama's - about 14%. So, add about 12% difference in Black percentage in state to Alabama's result and you will get something like Mississippi's results....

[100% pro-life no matter what]

To elaborate, there is one big political difference between the two states:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama%27s_6th_congressional_district

[smoltchanov]

To elaborate, there is one big political difference between the two states:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama%27s_6th_congressional_district

Mississippi doesn't have any big cities - hence a difference... It has similar suburbs in Rankin county for example, but they are too small to comprise a whole congressional district..

[All Along The Watchtower]

Alabama is whiter and has more large cities and more affluent (and thus, more hardcore Republican, at all levels of government - remember, this is the Deep South) suburbs, but on the other hand, Alabama also is more unionized (unusual for the South) and more industrial than Mississippi.

[gespb19]

Mississippi is more rural than Alabama, and a little less white.

[Del Tachi]

Mississippi is better.

Alabama's more urban status actually makes it less integrated and more Republican dominated.

 

[Indy Texas]

You also have that large swath of northern Alabama that really isn't Southern at all and has more in common historically and culturally with Kentucky and Eastern Tennessee.

[Del Tachi]

You also have that large swath of northern Alabama that really isn't Southern at all and has more in common historically and culturally with Kentucky and Eastern Tennessee.

There are portions of Northeast Mississippi like this.  Tupelo and Corinth are definitely not culturally Southern in the same way that Vicksburg, Oxford or Columbus are. 

[King of Kensington]

Not Deep South = "not Southern"?

[CatoMinor]

Not Deep South = "not Southern"?

I know people who think any one who lives north or west of Houston is a yankee.

[RINO Tom]

You also have that large swath of northern Alabama that really isn't Southern at all and has more in common historically and culturally with Kentucky and Eastern Tennessee.

I mean ... both are Southern...