How much did Appalachia's Trend have to do with the Baby Boomers

[OSR stands with Israel]

People always bring up coal , guns , the collapse of union power or racism as why Appalachia went from Solidly Democratic to Solidly Republican but one thing people forget to mention is the Baby Boomers.


Take 2004 for example : http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/WV/P/00/epolls.0.html


in WV Kerry actually won voters who were 65 or older by a 51-48 margin but lost 57%-42% among everyone else.  


Even in 1996 the numbers show a pretty stunning difference:
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/WVPxp.html

Clinton won voters who were 65 or older by a stunning 28 Points but only won voters who were between the ages of 18-64 by 10 points(Which was barely better than his popular vote margin). And Voters who were between the Ages of 30-44 Clinton did worse than he did nationally.

[darklordoftech]

What does "horizontal %" and "vertical %" mean?

[OSR stands with Israel]

What does "horizontal %" and "vertical %" mean?

Looking at the numbers vertical means the % of your total vote you got with that demographic

While Horizontal is just basically how the candidates did with that specific demographic

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I mention it all the time. these things have a real effect, especially down ballot. Pre-boomers remembered the Depression and its after effects and especially in Appalachia, led the dominance the Democrats had. For instance Republicans were able to win in WV as late as the 1950's, but didn't win again until the 1990's for Governor. So 45 to 50 years of Democratic dominance, which coincides with the dominance electorally by the Greatest Generation and the Silents.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

The loss of fossil fuel and 2007 and innovation of nuclear energy, world becomes energy-efficient by 2030. Wars, coal and manufacturing started migration from rust belt to Sunbelt

[darklordoftech]

A theory I have about Boomers is that they were more likely to move to places that reflected their political views than prior generations were, and that this is part of why the red state/blue state divide formed in 1988-2000.

[One Term Floridian]

A theory I have about Boomers is that they were more likely to move to places that reflected their political views than prior generations were, and that this is part of why the red state/blue state divide formed in 1988-2000.

Snowflake generation