The conservative education of Minnesota has been a long, slow, tedious, and hard fought battle. There is a certain pride that runs through the state for everything "Minnesotan". There's been a long history with the Hubert Humphreys, Wendell Andersons, and Walter Mondales. They brought notoriety to the state, so the people voted for their party. AND RAISED THEIR CHILDREN TO VOTE FOR THEIR PARTY. They will vote democrat no matter who is put on the ballot. Case in point: Mark Dayton.
The gradual shift to conservative thought has more to do with the aging and death of the Democrats that reigned in the 50s and 60s.
The Wellstone Death Rally repulsed the moderate wishy washys enough to get up and actually vote. The thought that conservatives can retain power here for years to come may be wishful thinking.
"The Wellstone Death Rally repulsed the moderate wishy washys enough to get up and actually vote. The thought that conservatives can retain power here for years to come may be wishful thinking."
I understand your point, but, as I showed in the article, there have been long-term shifts in the electorate, long before 2002. So I do think that the conservative movement is waking up and receiving sustained support.
"The gradual shift to conservative thought has more to do with the aging and death of the Democrats that reigned in the 50s and 60s."
Could that mean that as the old Dems die off, then the state will become more GOP? That's what I think may be happening. The transformation is still young, but I don't think it's fleeting or short-term.