[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

Liberal Republicans in liberal states - what sort of Republican could you elect in those places ? And with a liberal population, there is some surprise they voted for Gore, in such a close election ?

Nice circular logic. But but I thought that in close elections that a Governor's party magically made some difference in the way people vote? If anything, because of America's history in Congress of always voting for the party out of power, it HURTS the candidate.

Certainly nothing hurts a party like a dithering, pandering, principleless leader, which was the point.

(R)nold wins, Bush loses.

[buwaya]

"Nice circular logic. But but I thought that in close elections that a Governor's party magically made some difference in the way people vote? If anything, because of America's history in Congress of always voting for the party out of power, it HURTS the candidate."

Its not circular at all - if the polity tends liberal, their true nature would come out in a close election, as neither candidate has managed to overcome their ideological leanings. A strong candidate would be able to shift some proportion of the "natural" opposition to his side, which is necessary for a landslide.

In 2000, the election was close. There is no surprise at all in New York going Democrat. It would have taken a Reagan to shift them. Pataki could not shift them, I would not blame him for that.