Anti-Obama swings in eastern Ohio/western PA

[nclib]

Outside of the South, the border South (MO, OK, KY, WV), the home states (MA, AZ, AK), some sparsely populated counties in the Plains, the region of eastern Ohio/western PA was the only area to have a cluster of counties that swung Republican.

Why did Obama do poorly in this region?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Racists.

[Nym90]

It's part of Appalachia and not horribly different from the parts of WV or KY that swung to McCain.

[phk]

It's part of Appalachia and not horribly different from the parts of WV or KY that swung to McCain.

[Franzl]

It's part of Appalachia and not horribly different from the parts of WV or KY that swung to McCain.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

State lines are artificial, and demographics usually transcend state lines to a certain extent. It's not like someone on the Western edge of Iowa is much different from the guy in Eastern Nebraska, in most cases.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Generally speaking, Obama did not do all that well in industrial areas that have been struggling for decades (as opposed to areas that have only been struggling for a few years; where he often did very well). Media market patterns seem to have played a role as well.

Although... I'm almost tempted, given the highly personal nature of Obama's campaign and message, to wonder whether we're asking the wrong question here, or asking the right question in the wrong way.

[memphis]

Generally speaking, Obama did not do all that well in industrial areas that have been struggling for decades

No dice. He did amazing in much of the Rust Belt. In particular, IN, MI, eastern IA, NE PA.

[minionofmidas]

Generally speaking, Obama did not do all that well in industrial areas that have been struggling for decades

No dice. He did amazing in much of the Rust Belt. In particular, IN, MI, eastern IA, NE PA.

(as opposed to areas that have only been struggling for a few years; where he often did very well)

as viz, IN, eastern IA, much of MI... Flint doesn't fit the pattern, obviously.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Actually the only part of anthraciteland where Obama did well was Lackawanna county (ie; Scranton). Where his running mate be from. In the rest of the area the swings to him were anemic.

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I suppose Flint might be explained by the big black population. Swings in Saginaw and so on weren't so high.

[Nicodeme Depape]

These are the regions where Hillary dominated, no?

[Nym90]

Actually the only part of anthraciteland where Obama did well was Lackawanna county (ie; Scranton). Where his running mate be from. In the rest of the area the swings to him were anemic.

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I suppose Flint might be explained by the big black population. Swings in Saginaw and so on weren't so high.

The swing in Saginaw County was higher than the national average, and not that much less than in Genesee.

Unless you mean Saginaw City vs. Flint City; I'm just looking at the Atlas results which doesn't have City/Town results for MI yet (unfortunately....). Of course, the city of Saginaw itself has quite a large black population, too.

[TeePee4Prez]

Another area I found interesting and I said this before were the swings/trend in Eastern Massachusetts towards McCain.  Not sure if it was Kerry not being on the ticket or race, but parts of the area remind me an awful lot of NE Philly.