Who do Colo, Nevada and N.Mexico on the electoral map politically different from

1. 78

   Credence2posted 11 years ago

   Who do Colo, Nevada and N.Mexico on the electoral map politically different from their neighbors
   
   Please check out this map,
   
   http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2012/P … Sep07.html
   
   How is it that Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico remain a blue oasis surrounded by crimson red? Would anyone want to speculate why they are different than their regional sisters?

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2. 78

   junksellerposted 11 years ago

   This whole area (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Idaho) has experienced pretty significant demographic changes over the past decade. They have, for instance, had some of the largest population growths in the nation. A lot of this growth is urban and Hispanic, both of which tend to lean Democratic. As an example, Colorado's population is now 20% Hispanic (above the national average).
   
   Additionally, the current Republican party has shifted away from what it used to be. Conservatism in the West tends to be very libertarian (keep government out of my business) and much less about social conservatism. They also care deeply about their land, yet the only time the current GOP seems to care about land is when it has oil or gas beneath it.
   
   Gary Johnson, former governor of new Mexico, running as a Libertarian for President could very easily pull a lot of votes in this region. It is also a real possibility that he wins the state of New Mexico.

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      Credence2posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks, Junkseller, precisely. Liberatariasm is responsible for the conservatism of the Mountain West states in general. Why do think that Hispanic and Urban in Colorado means blue, while in Arizona the state remains quite red?

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   2. 78

      junksellerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Arizona is probably stronger Republican to begin with so has farther to go, and they had one of the most significant population shifts (+25% total, +46% Hispanic). It will take some time to shift the political reality, but it seems inevitable.

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      Credence2posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Comparing Arizona with Colorado, there may be one major difference, it is a retiree mecca. I bet that the medium age is older and older people tend to be more conservative in their voting patterns? AS you say their GOP base is stronger over his/urban

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