Massachusetts in 1984

[soniquemd21921]

Why did Reagan get a majority of the vote in Massachusetts in 1984, 12 years after being the only state in the country to vote for McGovern?

What I also find unusual is that Nixon carried Rhode Island in 1972, even though Rhode Island is usually more Democratic than Massachusetts is.

[WalterMitty]

1. reagan made a play for mass in 1984. 

2. ri is more 'democrat' than mass.  but mass is much more 'liberal.'  hence the reason mcgovern was able to carry it.  mass also has a large college student population.

[Liberalrocks]

I'm wondering if Mondale could have won it considering how close the final vote was and put resources and campaign stops into it. Mondale was campaigning in states that were not as close more heavily. I understand Ferraro had an appearance in Ma. Final vote was something like 51-48% and had Mondale won it at least he could have claimed he won something other then his home state by the razor thin edge he did. Roughly the same margin for Reagan in Rhode island that year. Mondale's camp obviously knew they were so far behind at the end, why not target those two so you at least win *something* other then your home state?!!

[pbrower2a]

I'm wondering if Mondale could have won it considering how close the final vote was and put resources and campaign stops into it. Mondale was campaigning in states that were not as close more heavily. I understand Ferraro had an appearance in Ma. Final vote was something like 51-48% and had Mondale won it at least he could have claimed he won something other then his home state by the razor thin edge he did. Roughly the same margin for Reagan in Rhode island that year. Mondale's camp obviously knew they were so far behind at the end, why not target those two so you at least win *something* other then your home state?!!

Trying to look good losing is an unattractive and futile strategy.

Mondale was simply an awful campaigner.  He came close to losing 50 states.

[Mr.Phips]

Reagan winning here in 1984 was something of a surprise.  Late polls showed Mondale ahead here and many suspected that this might be the only state he would win, not Minnesota. 

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Plenty of old-fashioned Democrats in Mass. that Reagan was able to appeal to.  Plus, he made a play for it.  Don't think the analysis has to go too far beyond that. 

[old timey villain]

I'm sure the political strategists at the time never could have foreseen how much the Northeast and New England has swung away from the GOP. Today Reagan never would have been able to win Massachusetts, even if he still won by 17 points overall. That margin would have been maxed out in the red states and swing states.

[sg0508]

Mondale, in an interview approximately 10 years back said that in the closing weeks after the last debate, they knew there were only a few states they had a prayer at.  In the last two weeks, they poured a bunch of $$$ into MN hoping that he could hold his own state to avoid the sweep.  They didn't want to spread $$$ around.  Ironically, he won MN by .28% and I'm not convinced he did.  I bet something went on to give him the winl

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

Cult of Personality.

[Mr.Phips]

Mondale, in an interview approximately 10 years back said that in the closing weeks after the last debate, they knew there were only a few states they had a prayer at.  In the last two weeks, they poured a bunch of $$$ into MN hoping that he could hold his own state to avoid the sweep.  They didn't want to spread $$$ around.  Ironically, he won MN by .28% and I'm not convinced he did.  I bet something went on to give him the winl

Im guessing that those few states were Minnesota, Massachussetts, Maryland, and Rhode Island.  Possibly Pennsylvania and Iowa too.  Even New York probably looked out of reach for Mondale in the final weeks. 

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Reagan carried Mass. in 1980 as well.

[SingingAnalyst]

While it is true nationwide that young college students were less Dem in 84 than in 72, that would not seem to explain the 6-point move toward the GOP 72-84. If anything, Mondale did better than McGovern in most towns and cities with a large university population: Cambridge, Brookline, Newton, Wellesley, Amherst, Northampton-- while doing much worse than McGovern in working class areas: South Boston, Waltham, Lowell, Somerville. Lingering white resentment of busing, which was not an issue pre-1974, probably did him in. On the other hand, the liberal, largely Jewish communities were largely pro-choice and supportive of a nuclear freeze, and opposed to Reagan (whereas they may have liked Nixon's foreign policy).

[bobloblaw]

Two words:

School Busing.

In 1972, there was no school busing in MA.

[Thunderbird is the word]

Reagan probably appealed to a larger then usual share of the Irish-Catholic vote in Boston also.

[Sumner 1868]

Speaking of RI, it's pretty astonishing how pathetic Mondale did in 1980 Carter states. At least one other besides MN should have given him electoral votes.

[OSR stands with Israel]

I'm wondering if Mondale could have won it considering how close the final vote was and put resources and campaign stops into it. Mondale was campaigning in states that were not as close more heavily. I understand Ferraro had an appearance in Ma. Final vote was something like 51-48% and had Mondale won it at least he could have claimed he won something other then his home state by the razor thin edge he did. Roughly the same margin for Reagan in Rhode island that year. Mondale's camp obviously knew they were so far behind at the end, why not target those two so you at least win *something* other then your home state?!!

Trying to look good losing is an unattractive and futile strategy.

Mondale was simply an awful campaigner.  He came close to losing 50 states.

Nobody could win 49 states if their opposition is somewhat decent

[Hydera]

Why are people so surprised that Reagan managed to win Massachusetts? There was a large economic rebound from the 1981-1982 recession and Massachusetts was one of those states that rebound really well.

[Podgy the Bear]

It seems amazing that Reagan was able to carry Massachusetts twice.    When you look back, though, 1980 is not a real surprise--Anderson pulled off nearly 15% of the vote, and a lot of disaffected Kennedy supporters didn't support Carter in the end--it was a significant anti-Carter vote.

1984 is somewhat harder to figure out.  But I think Reagan's victory was so broad nationally (18 point margin) and his appeal to the Irish-Catholic population was quite significant in Massachusetts.    And the "Massachusetts Miracle" that Michael Dukakis always talked about started in 1983 and 1984 and the economy rebounded strongly in the state.

By early November 1984, it was clear that the Reagan campaign was within reach of a 50 state shutout, and Mondale had to pretty put in his resources to the one state that he knew (Minnesota) to avoid that shutout.

[bobloblaw]

Why are people so surprised that Reagan managed to win Massachusetts? There was a large economic rebound from the 1981-1982 recession and Massachusetts was one of those states that rebound really well.

[SingingAnalyst]

Why are people so surprised that Reagan managed to win Massachusetts? There was a large economic rebound from the 1981-1982 recession and Massachusetts was one of those states that rebound really well.

Living in Cambridge, MA in 1984 I recall Mondale campaigning like crazy. His Fri Nov 2 speech on Boston Common drew 90,000. Mondale did as well as he could have under the circumstances; Americans were not going to have their 5th President in less than 11 years.

[Young Conservative]

1. reagan made a play for mass in 1984. 

2. ri is more 'democrat' than mass.  but mass is much more 'liberal.'  hence the reason mcgovern was able to carry it.  mass also has a large college student population.