Will we EVER win the "Center Stripe?" - Democratic Underground

Bicoastal

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Thu Nov-13-08 05:15 PM
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Will we EVER win the "Center Stripe?"

Edited on Thu Nov-13-08 05:21 PM by Bicoastal

You know, the states that stretch from North to South in the geographic middle of the country, starting with the Dakotas, heading down through Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas? Obama took a bite out of the Southwest, the South, AND the Midwest this year--but no, those states remained as remained as red as ever. It's literally the only barrier that prevents us from claiming a cross-country victory. Minus Omaha, these are 57 Electoral Votes that may never be ours.

The last time we won all 6 states was in 1964; however, Lyndon Johnson's election was the last no-contest blowout the Democrats have had in 44 years. And that election was a unique one in the 20th century--the fact that JFK was assassinated only less than a year earlier made most voters jittery about changing horses in midstream, even those that would have normally voted Republican.

We haven't won Texas since Jimmy Carter. We haven't won Oklahoma since Harry Truman. Pre-LBJ, the last time we won all 6 states was in 1932 and 1936, at the height of the Depression. Woodrow Wilson managed to get 5 out of 6 twice in a row, but South Dakota stayed resolutely non-blue, voting Republican in 1916 and Bull Moose in 1912. Go back much further, and it starts to turn in Indian Territory.

The states seem to get more staunchly conservative as you go North. Despite the whole "Bush Country" reputation, Texas has been voting Democratic for roughly 2/3 of its existence. Oklahoma's 10 Democratic votes may not seem like a lot, but it beat out Maine and Vermont, of which the latter has only been Democratic since 1992. (Other than the exceptional LBJ election, this latter state stayed resolutely out of Democratic hands for 164 years, a fact that seems to clash with its current granola reputation.)

BUT Nebraska has only wholly voted 7 times for a Democrat in its entire existence--and you can be sure that the their legislation will never let a Democrat bite off a chunk of its Electoral Vote total ever again. Kansas of "What's the Matter With" fame has gone blue 6 times. North Dakota, which seemed to lean towards Obama a few times in the last year, has voted for a Democrat only 5 times. And South Dakota? Fuhgeddabout it. If it weren't for newcomer Alaska, South Dakota's FOUR Democratic votes would be a record. They stayed resolutely Red during WWI, WWII, Vietnam, and both conflicts in Iraq, only letting down their guard in the wake of two national tragedies and the populist rhetoric of William Jennings Bryan. Ever wonder why Mount Rushmore has two Republicans, one Democratic-Republican, and one Unaffiliated? This may be the reason.

Nevertheless, there is hope. All 6 states voted more Democratic than they did 4 years ago. 12 out of 32 Texas Congressman are Democrats; Oklahoma and Kansas each have Democratic Governors. South Dakota and Nebraska each have a Democratic Senator, while North Dakota has TWO. In fact, all three of North Dakota's representatives in Congress are Democrats, which must be something of a record in this part of the country--and their vote for Obama was TEN points higher than their vote for Kerry four years ago, making it definitely a state to watch for in 2012.

On the other hand, Republican John Hoeven of North Dakota is the longest-serving and most popular governor in the entire country. It may be a long time before a state in the Center Stripe votes for a Democratic President--and another century, perhaps, before they all do.