possibly 9/11 bump related? Bush tended to do better in some suburban areas of the Northeasr in 04 than 00. It was mostly concentrated in suburban NY (Long island, jersey, and CT), but its not of the question that the 9/11 suburban bump spreaded to mass (which has many suburbs) and RI (in which most of the state is suburban). Basically a group that was trending heavily Dem, and took a one election jump back due to 9/11 & security issues, but a group which more than likely will jump back further left in 08.
I can understand why the New York suburbs trended Republican, but why would the 9/11 fear effect Boston all that much more than, say, the Democratic-trending D.C. 'burbs? If there was a 9/11 bump, it should have been evident there, too, shouldn't it have been?
Not sure if gay marriage mattered all that much.
gay marriage is still a big issue in massachusetts, lewis.
there is a rather large section of mass democrats that are stongly opposed to gay marriage.
massachusetts is kind of similar to the south of 50 years ago. it is a one party state, but there is a huge split between the conservative, blue collar, religious wing and the left wing.
there are jokers in the massachusetts legislature with a (d) next to their name that are much more conservative than me,.
