Replies

The Wellstone re-election number in 1996 was much closer than 51-42. It was more like 51-49... please re-check.

The article would also be bolstered by including numbers pertaining to Coleman's election over Mondale in November 2002.

There are four factors that are contributing to the GOP tide in Minnesota:

1. the population in the northern Iron Range part of the state, strongly leftist and DFL, is declining.

2. Depression-era New Deal and DFL Democrats are dying.

3. The only parts of the state that are experiencing and substantive population growth are the suburbs of Twin Cities, St Cloud, and Rochester.

4. Finally, the state has a strong pro-life Catholic population and these people finally are getting a clue that voting for RATS means no progress on this important issue.

Bush will target MN, IA, and WI in 2004. No free ride for the RATS in any of these states; he lost each by an eyelash in 2000.

"The Wellstone re-election number in 1996 was much closer than 51-42. It was more like 51-49... please re-check."

Well, I wish I could say it was closer, but I checked and the information I have says it was 51% for Wellstone, 42% for Boschwitz and 7% for an Independent candidate. If somehow I'm wrong, please give me a link.

As for 2002, Coleman beat Mondale 50%-47%.

I find very interesting your comments on the demographics of the state. A couple auxiliary tidbits: Exit polling showed that Catholics constituted 27% of the electorate in 2000. Of those, Bush beat Gore 51%-42%, while amongst Protestants, the two candidate were virtually tied. This, however, was not the case in 1996 or 1998 for the GOP.

Your other points are also very interesting on the changes in the state. I'm not entirely sure where they're all coming from, but nobody can deny that something good is happening for the GOP. If you have any links to info on this, I'd be delighted to have it.

"Bush will target MN, IA, and WI in 2004. No free ride for the RATS in any of these states; he lost each by an eyelash in 2000."

You can add Oregon and New Mexico to the eyelash list. And don't count out states like PA, WA and ME. They're all winnable.