What got so many counties to shift from blue to red?

USA Today | January 31, 2005

[RWR8189]

Title and link only

[SF Republican]

George Bushes fault - I am proud to say

[Republicus2001]

BUSTED! the Red Dye No. 2 Salesmen Conspiracy

[AZ_Cowboy]

It was the boegyman! Didn't they tell you?
/Sarcasm

Obviously, this was to the article author, not the poster. We're all friends here.

[Dan from Michigan]

In my state, one county went from red to blue. Alger County in the UP which is staunchly democrat.

Manistee, Alpena, Monroe, Macomb, Calhoun, Iron, Clare, Ogemaw, Roscommon, and Iosco all switched. Most are rural and socially conservative.

[nmh]

The five reasons they give:

1. A wartime president

Voters were drawn to Bush by memories of the 9/11 attacks and a reluctance to change leaders in the midst of war.

2. Who was tough enough?

Democrats were damaged by the perception that the party and its nominees are weak on national security.

3. Values mattered

Values led some voters to Bush

4. 'The move-in people'

Republicans benefited from demographic shifts.

5. Nuts and bolts

Republicans out-campaigned Democrats.

---

Close but no cigar. Kerry is a liar and no sane person has trust in a liar. Gay marriages was also another show stopper - Kerry was for it despite his flip-flops. Kerry was also a very despicable character. The ultimate fact is the people spoke and they simply didn't want Kerry as President.

[longtermmemmory]

Easy, the media decided that from now on blue would not mean challenger, blue means Democrat for the MSM.

Seriously, the sleeping gian awoke.

[longtermmemmory]

gian=giant

[gwbiny2k]

When I lived in Chicago area, I loved going to UP at
Indianhead, Blackjack etc. Colder than heck, but gorgeous
country.

[petercooper]

this>

[PeterFinn]

Because a few years ago the MSM decided that Democrats would be Blue and Republicans would now be red.

In 1988 the GOP states were BLUE.

http://www.presidentelect.org/e1988.html

[thoughtomator]

The Democrats' campaign.

[rightwinggoth]

Because a few years ago the MSM decided that Democrats would be Blue and Republicans would now be red.

I think the color of red is a much better representation of what the Democratic party stands for. ;)

[Alia]

Jill Lawrence and company are merely looking at the same nuts and bolts - almost as if Nancy Pelosi had written the "talking points". They miss the point of the red states and President Bush's election -- near entirely, IMHO.

[Socratic]

"5. Nuts and bolts"

Nuts in the Dem leadership caused their former voters to bolt.

[buffyt]

When I moved to Lake Jackson Texas in 1973 I could not find another Republican. I kept my mouth shut about politics. Now it is RARE to find a Democrat around here......

[Zacs Mom]

The entire "face" of the Dem party is enough to cause any sane democRat an identity crisis and send them fleeing from any association what so ever with this collection of scum!!!

[BenLurkin]

The blue tumors are getting smaller and denser:

[Alia]

Nuts. lol. I put it elsewhere like this:

It helped tremendously that Dem supporters continued to use coarse language. Basically, the overall message was: If you vote for Kerry, you get a country like these Democrat followers and supporters.

Nude protestors against Bush? Yep. Just invite them home. F*** Bush signs? Definitely proponents of a strong educational system, elect these people to your school boards.

How about vilifying Viet Nam Vets? Uh, doesn't require a rocket scientist to figure out how many men did return home from this war and are voters.

How about.. FRAUD?

And then of course, there were the Hollywood stars and starlets campaigning against President Bush and for John Kerry (er, something like that...). Who cares? Like, because we watch movies these folks act in, we are going to find them entirely believable in real life? I don't t'ink so.. The Hollywoodites treated the average America as "stupid" in even positing and posturing themselves as "leaders". That because we'd see their movies and enjoy them.. we'd just move like a blob into agreeing with their "political views". Very offensive. This was very offensive. The rich people of Hollywood lecturing to the "hicks", right?

Yep. The extremely rich Mr. Soros. Mr. Euthanasia, pro-pot, anti-America type rich dude for Democrats. After 30+ years of Dems slamming the "filthy" rich... they didn't think that putting Soros forward as their lead guy wasn't going to backlash on 'em?

Nuts, alright. lol!

[Wiseghy]

I agree with the assessment of Kerry. Also, I would point out that both candidates ran as moderates. However, Kerry's hypocrisy was exposed by the swift boat controversy and his subsequent anti-war activities. He clearly showed his colors as an extremist, and the country rejected him.

The country is, on the whole, moderate, and they reject radicals from both sides as being unable to effectively lead.