[Ohioan]

I would suggest that it was a cynical media experiment, which worked to demonstrate the limited perspective of most politicians. I have been cringing at the absurdity since 2000.

[BroJoeK]

On turning Republicans "red": "it was a cynical media experiment, which worked to demonstrate the limited perspective of most politicians "

Specifically, Tim Russert at NBC in 2000 declared "r" = Republican = red, so Dems by default became blue.

But Russert's change also confirmed the leftist myth that Southern red racist Democrats are now Southern red racist Republicans.
That's what makes it so cringe-worthy.

The left claims that by accepting average Southerners, blue Republicans turned themselves red, and turned Democrats blue.
And, if you ask our Lost Cause supporters here, it's not clear if they ever really wanted to be colored Union blue.