It always mystified me that Massachusetts, the only state to vote for McGovern in 1972, voted twice for Ronald Reagan.
Granted, it was generally the weakest state that he carried, receiving just under 41% of the vote in the 3-way 1980 race, and 51% of the vote in 1984.
But it still makes me wonder. Is it because the Massachusetts liberalism was centered on anti-war views, and that once that issue was removed there was less incentive to vote Democratic? Any ideas?
Mass. is largly Catholic, economicly liberal, not very pro-war, but not all that socially liberal. Regan gathered some Catholic anti-abortion votes, and Carter had done poorly.
