Anybody seen theories on why with maj white vote in Iowa Obama is polling well?

[DuaneBidoux]

I've wondered about why Iowa is staying strong for Obama (Nate has Iowa at over 80% chance of carrying Iowa now).

In view of the fact that Iowa is overwhelmingly white and that Obama has definitely had trouble with the white vote I've been wondering about this.

Thoughts and/or links to someone who has talked about this?

[rzemanfl]

1. People in farm country know bullshit when they see it?

[bullwinkle428]

2. Because we're SMARTER.

[Paulie]

3. Lots of farms

And they know malarkey when they smell it?

[Rambis]

4. Got some of these

[NotThisTime]

5. I heard it was the car bail out, there are related jobs there as well

[lindysalsagal]

18. Exactly what I heard.

[frazzled]

6. Two things come to mind

First, it's a Midwestern state, and a neighbor of Illinois. This country hasn't had a president from the Midwest (until Obama) for many decades. I don't think you can discount this entirely, though it is not talked about much.

Iowa is pretty progressive. Remember, it was one of the early states to embrace same-sex marriage. (My nephew and nephew-in-law got married there in 2009, after two "failed" California gay marriages!!)

[Rambis]

8. Wind farms everywhere

under RobMe the wind industry here dies and the jobs making the blades dies too.

[flamingdem]

12. +1 wind industry is it

[moondust]

23. +2 for wind

Wikipedia:

Iowa had 4322 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity at the end of 2011, second only to Texas.[23] Wind power accounted for almost 20 percent of the state’s electricity generation in the first quarter of 2011.

Mitt Romney recently upset many Iowa conservatives by saying he'd end a tax credit that helps subsidize the state's burgeoning wind industry. Farmers and others say it will cost him their vote.

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/09/nation/la-na-iowa-wind-20120809

Also, because of the early caucuses I think there is a tendency for Iowans in general to be more politically tuned in and focused on the issues rather than the shallow posturing and BS.

[SubgeniusHasSlack]

7. Not all white people are racists.

There are fewer troglodyte idiots in Iowa than there are in the south, for example.

[DuaneBidoux]

15. As a progressive it pains me to point this out but...

Not all white people voting for Romney are racists either.

Some are just misled.

[SubgeniusHasSlack]

17. Those not racist are just greedy.

There is more racism there than you understand, on a myriad of levels for different people.

[lumberjack_jeff]

22. Verily thou will be smited.

The gods of conventional wisdom shall not be trifled with!



Agree. I think it's more fundamentalism than racism.

[loves_dulcinea]

19. I live in the south

and there are alot of troglodytic sorts 'round here, come to think of it...

[freemay20]

9. Character??

It might be because they can spot a liar, tax cheat, and a person with poor character. They also may have more time to think about what is good for them rather than thinking about what others have that they feel is unfair. They are greatly agricultural and growing up in Wisconsin myself, I found that farmers usually have concern for their neighbors. They have been in bad spots and have both been helped by neighbors and have helped Neighbors.

[exboyfil]

10. Iowans are generally nice people?

I married one and have lived here 23 of my 49 years. I have also lived in Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Tennesse, Mississippi, and California. Iowa is a very nice place to live even with the moderately high tax structure (you get what you pay for) and the brutal winters. It is a great place to raise a family. We have our crazies (I think I work with most of them) but in general we are pretty open minded in this state. I don't think most Iowan's first impression of Pres. Obama is that he is black, but that he is a slightly left of center figure. We think he is sincere and more fair than some of the alternatives.

It was close for me in the last election. I voted for McCain. I would have voted for Clinton. I just did not think Pres. Obama had enough experience to be President. The shoe is on the other foot in this election. Romney even without his other faults really does not have the resume I would like to see in a President. With his faults I could never vote for him under any circumstances. My dislike for him started with his carpet bombing before the caucus and has only grown with time.

[cthulu2016]

11. Mixed populations are sometimes more racist.

No racial diversity = no historical opportunity to use race as a wedge.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

13. Ask this guy. He has the answer.

[DoBotherMe]

14. We are descendent from abolitionists, Lutherans, and Methodists

Iowa was "free" territory and a "free" state. And we work too hard to even concern ourselves with anyone else's business. IMHO. Dana ; )

[Greybnk48]

16. They're not a bunch of dumb shits

as we say in the Mid-West. Go Iowa!

[Recursion]

20. Soybeans

Trade war with China (which Romney promises) would be awful for ag.

[lumberjack_jeff]

21. Less fundy christianity than the deep south.

I think some if not most of what we discount as racism is actually dispensationalist religion. They are more comfortable with a bible thumper, even if it's not their bible that he's thumping.

[jwirr]

28. That is true. Most of the churches in Iowa are traditional churches that existed before the rise of

Falwell etal.

[Skidmore]

24. Iowa has a wonderful history of reforms. Read through this

list. Iowa is good people. Wouldn't live anywhere else.

http://www.cityofdubuque.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/1178

[bluestate10]

25. The state overall is highly educated. nt

[SaveAmerica]

26. I'm white and I voted for Obama. Some of my best friends are white Obama voters!

Some white Republicans are voting for Obama. He can't win with just the minority vote.

[jwirr]

27. I haven't seen any theories but having lived in Iowa most of my early years I think it is because

most of the big cities are Democratic and that is also true of most of the colleges. Even the rural areas have their share of Democrats and added together they can win an election if they get out the vote.

[JI7]

29. same reason as Oregon and VErmont, but Iowa has more wingnuts than those states

that's why it's closer than Oregon and Vermont.

but liberals in Iowa tend to be very liberal while conservatives tend to be very conservative.

Romney has never been much popular in Iowa, not even among just the Republicans. they loved people like huckabee and santorum.

[PD Turk]

30. Because Romney's a dick?

[KharmaTrain]

31. Eastern Iowa vs. Western...

The eastern part of the city is far more urban and industrial. The Quad Cities and Cedar Rapids are Democratic strongholds and there's the huge university community at Iowa City. In the west its far more religious and agrarian...Des Moines kinda splits the difference.

A strong turnout in the eastern Iowa counties is a good sign for President Obama...

[Condem]

33. There will be a STRONG turnout for Obama...

Lines for early voting in Iowa City nearly every day...Me? I'm waiting til Election Day. I want to beat The Twit in Tuesday's numbers!!

[HarveyDarkey]

32. Iowa Nice