Swing cities

[BaldEagle1991]

I know there's all this talk about swing states and all, but what about swing cities? I know since they're cities, they're practically not important, but I'd like to know what cities do you think here in America are "swing" like both GOP and Democratic at times. I know my home city of Houston is, also are Salt Lake City, Jacksonville FL, and perhaps San Diego, just wondering if they're others.

[Torie]

Omaha might qualify. Most cities however have slipped away from that status one by one. I suppose Marion County might be another (the city and county merged to keep it Pub about 3 decades ago, but time marches on). Perhaps the city of Phoenix as well.

[BaldEagle1991]

Omaha might qualify. Most cities however have slipped away from that status one by one. I suppose Marion County might be another (the city and county merged to keep it Pub about 3 decades ago, but time marches on). Perhaps the city of Phoenix as well.

Phoenix is indeed one I just remembered, maybe the poster child of swing cities for sure. I'm surprised Omaha is though, never been there and don't know too much about the city, but I wonder what makes it a "swing city"?

[tpfkaw]

San Diego and Omaha as mentioned, Houston at least used to be, Manchester, NH if it counts.

[Brittain33]

Charlotte?

[BaldEagle1991]

Houston at least used to be

Still is.

I think Charlotte once was, but I know it was swing in 04, went Dem in 08 very fast.

[old timey villain]

Are we talking just the cities of the metropolitan areas as well?

[BaldEagle1991]

Are we talking just the cities of the metropolitan areas as well?

Both overall I guess.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Is there any city that has more of a split personality today than Cincinnati?

[Torie]

Is there any city that has more of a split personality today than Cincinnati?

San Antonio.

If one is talking metro areas, then quite a number qualify: the Twin Cities, Milwaukee, San Diego, Cincinnati (well that one is still Pub), Columbus and so forth. Not much action the NE these days however. All the metro areas are gone, gone.

[Sbane]

San Diego, the city itself, is not a swing city. The county is though.

[rebeltarian]

Irvine, CA
Sacramento, CA
Tampa, FL
Racine, WI
Manchester, NH

[fezzyfestoon]

Yeah, most of these places have quite Democratic urban areas, I'd be willing to wager. Hot planning messes like Jacksonville, Houston, and such are just so massively overgrown that their predominantly Republican suburban areas are included.

[BaldEagle1991]

I may think of putting Birmingham, Alabama on the list. Surprisingly a city in Alabama is a swing city.

[tmthforu94]

Omaha might qualify. Most cities however have slipped away from that status one by one. I suppose Marion County might be another (the city and county merged to keep it Pub about 3 decades ago, but time marches on). Perhaps the city of Phoenix as well.

Meh, Marion went hard for Obama in 2008. I suppose you could call it one, though Obama will likely carry it big again in 2012 thanks to large black turnout. Most suburbs though are outside of the county, though. Beech Grove is in, as are a couple others, but many are out.

[Chaddyr23]

Hillsborough County (Tampa) definitely is. Houston. I know a Dem hasn't won Duval County (Jacksonville) in a long time but the county went from 58-42 Bush to 49-50 McCain which is a pretty big swing.

[BaldEagle1991]

Shreveport, Louisiana could count as well. I'm not too sure about that though.

[pbrower2a]

Kent County, Michigan (Grand Rapids) is. St. Joseph County, Indiana (South Bend)? Elkhart Co., Indiana?

Fort Wayne, Indiana itself might be swing, but the surrounding county (Allen) is clearly R.

Tarrant County, Texas -- Fort Worth itself is probably D, but the suburbs are clearly R. In contrast to neighboring Dallas County the suburbs are bigger than the county itself. Dallas and Tarrant Counties share the same media.

If the Democrats are winning over Suburbia to any extent, then Republicans are in deep trouble outside the Core South, Appalachia, the Great Plains, and Mormon Country.