Candidates from different years vs. each other

[Nym90]

Gore 2000 vs. Kerry 2004

Gore- Blue
Kerry- Green

How does Kerry win IA and NM?

Because he received a higher percentage of the vote than Gore. These maps are comparing percentage of the vote, not percentage margin of victory or defeat.

[Nym90]

Oh, I didn't realize these were based on actual numbers.  I figured it was all just speculative.

If it was, I'd have moved it to the What-ifs? section.

[Nym90]

Here's an interesting one--Gore vs. Clinton '96:

Clinton (red) wins 320-218.

When seeing this map you can't not ask yourself : "what's the matter with Kansas ?"

Tipper Gore most likely.  Kansas seems like the kind of place that would have approved of her fight against explicit lyrics.

Even more likely: the fact that Clinton's opponent was a Kansan.