VA

[Kevin]

Why doe the Democrats do so well in this state? It was Kerry's second best southren state in 2004 and gores third best in 2000.

[© tweed]

Al will give you the best answer on this one.  Unfortunately, he's away for a week.  You might have to wait a little bit for his explanation.

[Kevin]

 ok

[Alcon]

Part of the answer is that for a southern state, it's more northern than most.  While in Mississippi Bush got around 80% of the white vote, it was more like two-thirds of the vote in Virginia.

Fairfax County also helps.

[Kevin]

What do you mean by more northern?

[Alcon]

What do you mean by more northern?

It is...closer to the north, including culturally, than most southern states, thus less socially conservative.

[Kevin]

I was asking peoples opinions too because I live in VA and I think it's getting more Liberal and I have three words to describe the reason Yuppies and Immigrants.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I was asking peoples opinions too because I live in VA and I think it's getting more Liberal and I have three words to describe the reason Yuppies and Immigrants.

LOL

[Kevin]

It's true though go to Fairfax to see what I mean by Immigrants or go to Loudoun to see what I mean by Yuppies.

[Alcon]

By definition the people you are talking about are not Yuppies, which are urban (hence the U) - these are suburban, mostly older-than-average, middle-to-upper middle class workers in Fairfax County.

As for immigrants...maybe.  But VA doesn't have a significantly higher stream of immigrants than other states I don't think.

I think the movement in Fairfax is the primary reason.

[Kevin]

 Go to Loudoun county and you will see what I am talking about.

[AkSaber]

Why doe the Democrats do so well in this state? It was Kerry's second best southren state in 2004 and gores third best in 2000.

I thought VA was Gore's 5th best Southern state.

1. Florida
2. Tennessee
3. Arkansas
4. West Virginia
5. Virginia

[Alcon]

Go to Loudoun county and you will see what I am talking about.

Loudoun was more Republican than state average, though.  It's also hard to think of it as a good display of anything, considering it is:

1. Demographically much more different than the state.
2. One of the richest counties in the U.S.
3. Much more libertarian than the state as a whole.
4. Where Philip lives.

[Cashcow]

I think the movement in Fairfax is the primary reason.

Since when is a 53-46 county a "movement?" Arlington gave Kerry a larger margin by about 5,000 votes.

[Kevin]

About the southern state thing I have to look at the poll's again.

[Kevin]

Another reason it's getting more liberal besides Fairfax is the fact there is alot of people from very liberal Northeastern states like NY and MA.

[Smash255]

I think the movement in Fairfax is the primary reason.

Since when is a 53-46 county a "movement?" Arlington gave Kerry a larger margin by about 5,000 votes.

It went for Bush narrowllly in 2000, was a strong Republican county before then.  Loudoun is aslo trending Dem, still more Republican than the Natl average, but not nearly as Republican as it was 15 years ago

[Kevin]

Like Fairfax the main reason it's trending Democratic is the fact that there is alot of people from the very liberal parts of the Northeast living there. Also Leesburg is heavliy Hispanic. 

[dazzleman]

Like Fairfax the main reason it's trending Democratic is the fact that there is alot of people from the very liberal parts of the Northeast living there. Also Leesburg is heavliy Hispanic. 

Fairfax is trending Democratic like affluent suburban counties in the northeast have been.

[Cashcow]

I think the movement in Fairfax is the primary reason.

Since when is a 53-46 county a "movement?" Arlington gave Kerry a larger margin by about 5,000 votes.

It went for Bush narrowllly in 2000, was a strong Republican county before then.  Loudoun is aslo trending Dem, still more Republican than the Natl average, but not nearly as Republican as it was 15 years ago

Obviously, but it's not the primary reason for Democratic "success" in Virginia.

[memphis]

Virginia has several factors making it one of the most liberal states in the South (kind of like being the tallest kindergarten student; only tall compared to your peers.) Anyway:

1 Large black population. 20%. Higher than Tennessee, Arkansas, or Florida. If any of these states had as many blacks as Virginia, they would be as or more Democratic (which is to say only Democratic by Southern standards) as Virginia

2. Very liberal DC suburbs. These are somewhat tempered by conservative exurbs, however.

3. Large elite university presence. William and Mary, UVA, George Mason.

4. Proximity to the North. DC and Maryland are just across the Potomoc.