When did the Democrats last win more land area in a presidential election?

[Donald Ian Rankin]

I was just looking at a map of state-by-state opinion polling for the upcoming presidential election, and I am struck by the fact that even with Obama ahead in the polls, McCain still looks set to win more land area - unsurprisingly, given that urban areas usually vote Democrat and rural ones are more likely to go Republican.

We get the same phenomenon in the UK - 1997 was a massive Labour landslide, but if the vote had been by acreage rather than by name, the Tories would still have won.

Does anyone know when last - or if ever - the Democrats won states with more than 50% of the US's land area?

[Happyhippychick]

1. Good question, one I've pondered myself. I think that this election will set a new

record in this area because Obama has the potential to reach more rural areas.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. 1964

~

[Sparkly]

3. Republican Morans do like to make that argument.

"Look at all that red on the map!" They need to be reminded that cornfields and cows don't vote.

[baldguy]

4. Acreage doesn't vote.