Colorado

[jman123]

Why did Colorado go for Obama when it went with Bust in 2000 and 2004? Was there a heavy hispanic turnout?

[Antonio the Sixth]

Yeah, definitely.

Plus, it's far from being the same place it was back in 2004.

[mileslunn]

Growing Latino population is part of it, although Arizona has a growing Latino population and it has stayed Republican.  I think also the fact it has a large transient population is part of it and my understanding is until recently, most of those who moved there came from the Midwest whereas over the last decade it has been more from the West Coast thus not just amongst hispanics, but those moving into the state are generally more liberal than those who were moving in 10-20 years ago.  Also I think the Democrats often wrote the state off and never really campaigned much there, but after the success in the senate, congressional, and governor's results; I think that convinced many Democrats Colorado was winneable so they put more resources into it than before.  Also things change, after all Arkansas and West Virginia used to be solidly Democrat and Missouri was like Ohio in terms of being a bellwether whereas now those states all lean Republican. 

[Eraserhead]

It's trended Democratic in four presidential elections in a row now.

[Person Man]

as miles pointed out, demographics aren't everything and perhaps there has been a large and steady change of hats from getting "gifts" from Republicans to getting "gifts" from Democrats.

[stegosaurus]

Amendment 64 (marijuana legalization) probably drove out more student/youth voters than would have probably showed up without it. 64 actually got more votes than Obama did.

[technical support]

Why did Colorado go for Obama when it went with Bust in 2000 and 2004? Was there a heavy hispanic turnout?

Latino's and Women help deliver the state to Obama in 2008 & 2012

[Person Man]

If you look at exit polls, the Colorado Democratic party's main staples are choice, immigration and marijuana. If you look at things like Health Care Reform and taxes, Colorado might as well be Arizona or Indiana.

Colorado is definitely part of the McGovern Coalition and not the New Deal Coalition.

[Torie]

The dope smokers have arrived in force. That is all.

[DINGO Joe]

Amendment 64 (marijuana legalization) probably drove out more student/youth voters than would have probably showed up without it. 64 actually got more votes than Obama did.

Don't know if it's the final count, but 64 actually leads in El Paso county (home of James Dobson and the Air Force Academy) by 10 votes while Obama lost the county by 59,000 votes.

[5280]

Can we change the thread title to Calirado/Colofornia?  CO only got one thing right this election, legalizing MJ.

[Benj]

The impact of Hispanic voters in Colorado is way overstated. The main change is that the white population is becoming much more amenable to the Democrats, especially in the Denver suburbs and Fort Collins.

[Oak Hills]

Someone should note that Bush did better with Hispanics than did McCain or Romney.

[Maxwell]

For some reason, the Marijuana initiative helped Obama, even though he's completely against it.

[mileslunn]

I would say it was a combination of the Latino vote as well as many transplanted whites from the Northeast and California who have moved into the state.  Usually the GOP got around 40% of the white vote while this time they got around 45% so that was part of the reason.  Also Bush did a lot better with Latinos (44% nationally vs. 27% for Romney) so had Romney gotten either 60% of the white vote or 40% of the Latino vote, he probably would have carried Colorado.  The bad news for the GOP is the demographic trends are definitely going against them long run meaning while they might be able to win it in 2016 if they win nationally, it may be harder in the longer-run.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Latinos and suburban women are the answer, since both are overwhelmingly Democrat right now.

[Franzl]

Latinos and suburban women are the answer, since both are overwhelmingly Democrat right now.

Those racists!

[Sbane]

The impact of Hispanic voters in Colorado is way overstated. The main change is that the white population is becoming much more amenable to the Democrats, especially in the Denver suburbs and Fort Collins.

Yeah, I agree with this. The hispanic vote is a factor, but the white independents around Denver and Fort Collins are who really control how the state votes. The hispanic vote is much more of a factor in Nevada and Florida.

[Sopranos Republican]

Gee I'm starting to feel better about the GOP in Pennsylvania than in Colorado.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

The dope smokers have arrived in force. That is all.

Sort of! It's cultural pressure from California, since people from California are moving there.

[5280]

Once Californians move to Colorado, Coloradians move to Texas and other states nearby.  It's an endless domino effect.