My trip through northern pink states, West to East

[wellstone dem]

For East to West see

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6642494

I just got back from my trip to take my daughter to college at the University of Montana. Although the scenery is beautiful, I needed some distraction and so decided to observe signs of the political leanings of the states along the way.



Missoula is definitely Obama country. Of course, Montana had a primary on the last day of primary season, which may make a difference. While in Missoula, I observed the following:

2 Obama lawn signs

4 Obama bumperstickers--one on a car with 3 white haired senior citizens. When I told my daughter this meant all white haired seniors were voting for Obama, she replied, "There may be a flaw in your reasoning process."

1 Obama bumpersticker on a car with Washington plates.
1 "Republican for Obama" bumper sticker

1 Hillary bumpersticker

1 Kerry/Edwards sticker

I drove across Montana yesterday, and unlike the trip out to Missoula, there was evidence of political engagement in the presidential campaign.

Just outside of Missoula there was one. Outside of Bozeman, I missed the reentry onto the freeway after getting gas, so I struck out across country, and ended up on a dirt road near the Bozeman Humane Society. As I drove at about 20 miles an hour, trying not to shake the bike off the back of the car, a VW bug passed, and slowed. The driver waved. The Obama bumpersticker told me why. And just outside of Billings, I saw the 3rd Obama sticker.

There were 2 Bush 08 bumperstickers, one on a car with California plates

The next day, it was the drive across North Dakota. As far as I can tell there is little political going on in North Dakota. Just as the the trip east to west, there was not one political bumper sticker. I did see one "Darwin fish" on the back of a red car with ND plates. There was one big billboard in Bismarck for the Democratic contender for Governor Tim Mathern.

Mathern is facing a tough race against the incumbent ND Governor. "North Dakota Governor John Hoeven (R) has little to worry about thus far in his upcoming bid for re-election. The incumbent leads State Senator Tim Mathern 66% to 26% in the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of the state. When “leaners” are included, Hoeven is ahead 67% to 27%."

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_governor_elections/north_dakota/election_2008_north_dakota_governor

That was it, until I passed the Ron Paul sign between Fargo and Valley City.


So, my conclusion after about 20 hours of driving in the pink states of Montana and ND. Obama has a better chance in MT than ND. I will be sure my daughter votes. But ND is impossible to predict as its citizens who drive the freeways keep their political opinions off their cars.

[demokatgurrl]

1. What's a pink state? n/t

[wellstone dem]

2. Leans republican, but could go Dem.

Both Montana and ND have gone Republican in the past many presidential races, but polling shows there is some vulnerability.