Day 40: South Carolina

[Joe Republic]

Quite an interesting state, and an excellent demonstration of the Democrat-Republican realignment.

Every county voted unanimously for the Democrat between 1904 and 1944, and all by usually very high margins.  But then in 1948 all but two counties voted for the state's favorite son, Strom Thurmond.  From that point on, the state began to go through a political upheaval, where nobody could easily predict how it would vote.  In 1968, SC was split almost evenly in three ways, which can also be seen in the election map for that year:



Four years later, every single county voted for Nixon.  Four years after that, all but three counties voted for Carter.

Now, the state is solid Republican; giving Bush a 17 point lead over Kerry last year:




Discuss.

[minionofmidas]

What we're now seeing is pretty much Dems = Blacks.

The days when Blacks were a majority of the state's population are unfortunately over - or rather fortunately, given the state of democracy in the state at that time.

[minionofmidas]

Black percentage (darkest= over 60%, lighest= under 10%)


Every county with over 50% Black voted Democrat. None with under 40% Black did.

[Ebowed]

Charleston's mayor is surprisingly progressive (Joe Riley, and he's held the position for years)-- he led a march to get the Confederate flag off of the State Capitol.  But even Charleston County voted 52-47 in favor of Bush.  Nearby Dorchester County, a typical conservative county that contains what used to be another 30-miles-away suburb into a city in its own right (Summerville), went for Bush with over 60% I believe.  There's really little else to say; although we voted in favor of repealing an anti interracial marriage law in the 1990s we had problems recently with the state legislature voting against tougher penalties against wife abuse.  Too conservative for its own good, really, and until there is substantial change in the parties there will be little change in the state's politics I suppose.  I'd guess the PC is around +3, +4, but since I spend most of my time in the lowcountry I know little of the upstate

However, the switch back to Democrat in 1976 is rather interesting - I believe South Carolina was one of Carter's best states that year.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Like most of the South, political trends are far more interesting downballot.

[minionofmidas]

However, the switch back to Democrat in 1976 is rather interesting - I believe South Carolina was one of Carter's best states that year.

True. While it's highly unlikely, I wouldn't *rule out* something like it happening again in the future. With - and against - just the right candidate, and with - and against - just the right campaign, another Dem breakin into Southern Whites is possible, and if it happens, its effect in the EC will be massive - but not likely to be longlasting.

[jimrtex]

South Carolina has had 8 EV since the 1930 apportionment.  This is 3 decades longer without change than any state that has 5 or more EV.

Delaware has had 3 EV since the 1820 apportionment, while New Hampshire has had 4 EV since the 1880 apportionment.

[Joe Republic]

South Carolina has had 8 EV since the 1930 apportionment.  This is 3 decades longer without change than any state that has 5 or more EV.

Interesting to note, considering the black flight from the state.  Incidentally, roughly how many black people left the state each decade over the last century?

[jokerman]

It could be described as center-right economically, pro tax and spending cuts yet pro fair-trade and pro-working class and solid right socially.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Senator Hollings was the lone vote against a massive increase of H-1B visas in 2000.

[jimrtex]

South Carolina has had 8 EV since the 1930 apportionment.  This is 3 decades longer without change than any state that has 5 or more EV.

Interesting to note, considering the black flight from the state.  Incidentally, roughly how many black people left the state each decade over the last century?

From 1900 to 1970, the black population was virtually unchanged (some up and down, most net was zero).  At the same time, the white population more than tripled.

[CARLHAYDEN]

There are two rather distinct groups in South Carolina of which I am particularly fond:

Retired military (primarily along the coast)

Black church ladies (central South Carolina)

Both groups exhibit common decency (which is all too uncommon these days).

[Joe Republic]

There are two rather distinct groups in South Carolina of which I am particularly fond:

Retired military (primarily along the coast)

Black church ladies (central South Carolina)

Both groups exhibit common decency (which is all too uncommon these days).

Apparently those military folk are retired from the Civil War.  Or so they would have us believe.

[CARLHAYDEN]

There are a lot of military retirees in South Carolina.

Many of them were stationed there at one time (remember Mendel Rivers and Strom Thurmond).

Taxes and the cost of living are lower there than in most of the nation, and the military has always been respected in that state.

[Alcon]

There are a lot of military retirees in South Carolina.

The Census doesn't list an abnormal amount, just slightly above the national average.  Washington actually has more, in fact, and as far as we know we don't have an unusual number.  Are they located in a specific area that makes their populations seem higher?

[CARLHAYDEN]

From Beaufort in the south to Charleston.

[Gustaf]

An interesting thing about South Carolina is that the number of voters was virtually unchanged for a long, long time...