How did George Bush win New Jersey so handily in 1988?

[RINO Tom]

Somewhat relevant (though not entirely the whole story by any means) that New Jersey in 1990 was 79% White, whereas by 2000 it was only 72.6% White and is now 68.6% White...

People really make a foolish assumption that these states were similar places to their current incarnations when analyzing how our political boundaries have changed.  A red state becoming a blue state doesn't necessarily mean that the TYPES of voters who made it a red state have stopped voting Republican; it might mean that the makeup of the state's electorate has fundamentally changed.

[RINO Tom]

Because back then it was suburbanites who were racists and unreachable by the Democratic message, whereas now it's rurals.

[RINO Tom]

Because back then it was suburbanites who were racists and unreachable by the Democratic message, whereas now it's rurals.

As you're well aware of Tom, times change.

I think more accurately, partisans change who they demonize as subhuman garbage and who they build up as enlightened and smart based on who is willing to lend them an electoral hand at the moment.