New Hampshire

[Filuwaúrdjan]

...But Wyoming has a Democrat governor(!)

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I think presidential elections are a better way to judge the voting inclinations of states!

I think elections for Congress (especially the House) are a better way to gauge the political climate of a particular era than elections for President are. America was far far ***FAR*** more conservative under Clinton than under Reagan.

Agreed

[Filuwaúrdjan]

And immigration of course.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

What you have to remember is that the US (like the UK) have a political system where you vote for candidates, not parties. Because of this things can get turned upside down rather easily due to personal charisma/unpopularity, etc. This is very clear in the US where someone like Reagan could win everywhere except extreme conservatism simply because voters supported him as president. This is why congressional elections really gives a better picture, since you get rid of some of the personal dynamics ruling presdential ones.

Got it in one.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

If I remember correctly, the Swedish Social Democrat's have been the most electorally sucessful socialist party in the world.
Compare with the SPUSA...

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Also, the two occasions on which no-socialist governements have been elected, 1976 and 1991, have seen the two deepest economical crises since the depression.  

Is this linked?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Sounds about right.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

In VT Dean had a reputation as an expert "triangulator" with a fetish for balanced budgets.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Bernie is a very good constituancy rep and he usually gets about a quater of the normal GOP vote(!)
In Vermont people tend to "vote for the man, not for the party", something common in a lot of rural areas.