"In order to rank the states on partisanship, Gallup analyzes "leaned" party identification by state. This measure adds partisan-leaning independents to the percentage who identify with either of the parties. Thus, the Republican total includes Republican identifiers and independents who lean Republican, and the Democratic total likewise includes Democratic identifiers and independents who lean Democratic."
What's great about this data is that Rush and Boehner are going to completely ignore it, and insist that the future of the party lies to keeping as far-right as possible. And Karl Rove will have acheived a perpetual one-party rule, just like he always wanted.
Details, details.
***Update*** In response to a challenge by Publius the esteemed WAMK, I give you this map:
Well, obviously I was mistaken. If that original map had been accurate, DEMOCRATS would be running running the government by now!
Actually this map (no source given oddly enough, but you can link to the blog is in the comments) proves something - the country IS center-right, but only if acreage gets to vote. Once you factor in population density, it looks a lot more like the first one. In other words, a county might have 1000 people but be the same physical size as Pittsburgh - that doesn't mean the same amount of people voted in both.
It does suggest that Republicans are isolated loners, and it would explain why AM talk radio holds such sway over them. Out there in the middle of the prairie, it's the only signal they can tune in.
What's great about this data is that it is misleading. If you look at how the individual counties voted, you'll see why we live in a center-right Country.
ReplyDeleteNot that you'll do it, but I'll challenge you to put this map (which shows County voting) under your map in the original post.
http://blog.adamnash.com/2008/11/10/2008-election-map-by-county/
Atta boy Karl! Full speed ahead!
ReplyDeleteWho issued the challenge?
ReplyDeleteThe notoriously Right Leaning NYTimes is the source of the map.
Yep, mock the prarie folk. It's not like they contribute anything to the Country, right?
Yikes! I assumed it was Publius, because you never comment this early! Correcting now. Are you sure the map is from the Times? The blogger said they were a source for an even better map.
ReplyDeleteAs for the prairie folk, I invite their response.
The NYTimes has several different options to play with the map:
ReplyDeletehttp://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/president/map.html
In that case I'm going for the "county shifts" one.
ReplyDeleteIf the Times is so biased, why did they include that county map? I shouldn't pick on you for that one; Publius is the fanatical media-bias monger.