[C19fan]

From what I understand the networks switched colors ever Presidential election year. The whole Red vs. Blue was due to the geographical concentrations one saw in the Bush I 2002 election. I guess the name stuck and the networks stopped switching colors.

[C19fan]

Oopss. meant 2000.

[jdfromny]

If you go to the botton of that chart and go back to 1976 and 1972 the ‘rats are still RED.

[fieldmarshaldj]

And the GOP, the Stupid Party, swallowed the Orwellian Newsspeak relabelling to Communist without so much as a whimper. Let’s take our damn color back, I’m a BLUE Republican !

[EDINVA]

oh, how vividly I remember the ‘blue sea’ for Reagan that night and about as important, the Republicans taking control of the Senate!

I believe at the time (the Cold War then being in full force and effect) the nets didn’t want the Dems further ID’d as “reds.” No joke.

[6323cd]

I don't get too excited about the "Red State"/"Blue State" issue. After all, Nancy Reagan's favorite color was red and Ronnie thought she looked fantastic in it.