Liberal or Democratic?

[ag]

I stand by my opinion that if an area can't even field a Democratic candidate (Wasn't Bloomberg more or less unopposed?) it's not all that Democratic.

Dem problem is not they don't have candidates - it is that the numerous ones they have are unexciting. The reason for this, surprisingly, is actually the Dem dominance in the city and the complex interplay of local and ethnic party machines. One can't get the nomination without being proficient in dealing with the party hierarchy - and this skill is not really that useful in the general election. Hence Dems consistently nominate low-quality candidates, while the Reps sometimes get blessed with high quality ones.

To make the point, despite the fact that Bloomberg was run-away favorite even before the Dems had a nominee, they still had a crowded primary of fairly serious candidates. There are just too many ambitious Dems - good candidates don't get through the primary.

[Gustaf]

I am aware of the kind of problems Democrats have in NYC and I also know that Democrats are heavily dominating. My point is that if a state is ready to vote for liberal Republicans, even by large majorities, that indicates to me that what they have against Republicans is their conservativeness, rather than their party. That is, they are more Liberal than Democratic.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

Maine-Democrat
Vermont-Liberal
Connecticut-Democrat
Rhode Island-Liberal
Massachusets-Liberal
New York-Democrat
New Jersey-Democrat
Pennsylvania-Democrat
Washington D.C.-Diseased
Maryland-Democrat
Delaware-Liberal to Democrat
Michigan-Democrat
Minnesota-Liberal
Wisconsin-Democrat
Illinois-Democrat
California-Democrat
Oregon-Democrat
Washington-Liberal
Hawaii-Democrat


Alot of these states are near dead center as far as overall politics go...

[ChipGardnerNH]

Here is my personal opinion:

California: both
Connecticut: liberal, marginally Democratic but less so than most blue states
Delaware: Democratic
DC: both
Hawaii: both
Illinois: both
Maine: liberal
Maryland: both
Massachusetts: both
Michigan: Democratic
Minnesota: both
New Jersey: both
New York: both
Oregon: liberal
Pennsylvania: both
Rhode Island: both
Vermont: liberal
Washington: both
Wisconsin: moderate, Republican, but slightly left of center and enough for Gore and Kerry to win, evenly divided state though, neither Gore nor Kerry won by much

Does anyone disagree with me on anything?  Discuss.
Michigan:

[Republican Michigander]

Maine - Liberal
Vermont - Liberal
Connecticut - Liberal
Rhode Island - Democrat
Massachusets - Both
New York - Both
New Jersey - Liberal
Pennsylvania - Democrat in Pitt/Erie/Scranton/Philly, Liberal in Philly burbs
Washington D.C. - Both
Maryland - Democrat
Delaware - Liberal
Michigan - Democrat
Minnesota - Democrat
Wisconsin - Democrat
Illinois - Both
California - Both
Oregon - Liberal (coast)
Washington - Liberal (coast)
Hawaii - Both

[adam]

Maine - Democratic
Vermont - Liberal
Connecticut - Democratic
Rhode Island - Liberal
Massachusets - Liberal
New York - Democratic
New Jersey - Democratic
Pennsylvania - Democratic
Washington D.C. -Democratic
Maryland - Liberal
Delaware - Liberal
Michigan - Liberal
Minnesota - Liberal
Wisconsin - Liberal
Illinois - Democratic
California - Democratic
Oregon - Democratic
Washington - Liberal
Hawaii - Liberal

[ottermax]

Maine - Liberal
Vermont - Liberal
Connecticut - Liberal
Rhode Island - Liberal
Massachusets - Both
New York - Both
New Jersey - Democratic
Pennsylvania - Democratic
Washington D.C. -Democratic
Maryland - Both
Delaware - Democratic
Michigan - Democratic
Minnesota - Democratic
Wisconsin - Both
Illinois - Democratic
California - Both
Oregon - Liberal
Washington - Liberal
Hawaii - Democratic

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I agree - take Chicago and Cook Co. in particular out of the equation then Illinois is largely a Republican state - most other Dem victories, such as in Champaign Co. are by WHISKERS.

[Ban my account ffs!]

I have trouble calling New England states "democratic" because they were traditionally very Republican up until recently.  I think Maine is a good example of staying put while the rest of the nation moved to the right.


Maine - Democratic
Vermont - Liberal
Connecticut - Democratic
Rhode Island - Liberal
Massachusets - Liberal
New York - Democratic
New Jersey - Democratic
Pennsylvania - Democratic
Washington D.C. -Democratic
Maryland - Liberal
Delaware - Liberal
Michigan - Democratic
Minnesota - Both
Wisconsin - Both
Illinois - Democratic
California - Liberal
Oregon - Liberal
Washington - Liberal
Hawaii - Liberal

Minnesota has the longest record of voting Democratic for president of any state, and that is due, in large part, to a marriage between the liberal voters of the Twin Cities and the democratic voters of the north.

Now, of course when I say liberal, I'm talking about social issues.  Traditionally Democratic are more economic policies that have been in the party platform for a very long time.

The nation will ultimately swing back to the left though, as it always goes in waves, and the old miners "up on da range" will still be voting democrat come hell or high water... much to the dismay of Republicans.

[Alcon]

Welcome to the forums

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I have trouble calling New England states "democratic" because they were traditionally very Republican up until recently.  I think Maine is a good example of staying put while the rest of the nation moved to the right.


Maine - Democratic
Vermont - Liberal
Connecticut - Democratic
Rhode Island - Liberal
Massachusets - Liberal
New York - Democratic
New Jersey - Democratic
Pennsylvania - Democratic
Washington D.C. -Democratic
Maryland - Liberal
Delaware - Liberal
Michigan - Democratic
Minnesota - Both
Wisconsin - Both
Illinois - Democratic
California - Liberal
Oregon - Liberal
Washington - Liberal
Hawaii - Liberal

Minnesota has the longest record of voting Democratic for president of any state, and that is due, in large part, to a marriage between the liberal voters of the Twin Cities and the democratic voters of the north.

Now, of course when I say liberal, I'm talking about social issues.  Traditionally Democratic are more economic policies that have been in the party platform for a very long time.

The nation will ultimately swing back to the left though, as it always goes in waves, and the old miners "up on da range" will still be voting democrat come hell or high water... much to the dismay of Republicans.

Hey, welcome! Nice to see another Minnesotan. What part of the state are you from?

I've analyzed our state's voting patterns a LOT and what I've noticed is this: The key to the state is in the middle ring suburbs (places like Minnetonka, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, etc.) The Iron Range as well as the Democratic pockets in the west and south (where I live) keep outstate in check so the Republicans can win victory margins there, and the Twin Cities keep the conservative exurbs in check. The only way the Republicans can win typically is by making serious inroads into the middle-ring suburbs. These are the places that voted for both Coleman and Kerry/Gore. It'll be interesting to see the gubernatorial race results, especially if it's almost dead even, which looks likely.