I found these maps interesting.
A lot of work went into them.

http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/JAVA/election2004/

I remember some Republicans using the electoral map to brag about the election since there was so much red on it. I hope these maps put things into perspective for them.

those maps make a good case for the electoral college

Those were great! Thanks for the post.

Good stuff Dan -- thanks

Originally posted by Travh20
those maps make a good case for the electoral college Considering the amount of purple on the maps, I'd say they make a good case for states to allot their electoral votes in proportion to the popular vote. It would reduce the discrepancy between the electoral and popular votes, and the smaller states would still have their say.

I thought the one with voter density was the most interesting. Seems like those with the highest densities were more likely to vote democratic.

cool link - I always like looking at stuff like that

Originally posted by 500lbguerilla
I thought the one with voter density was the most interesting. Seems like those with the highest densities were more likely to vote democratic.
Higher proportion of poor people. Poor people tend to vote Democrat.

Last time I checked the middle of the country wasn't really booming at any sort of business. So I think we can assume there is a fari number of poor people sitting right in the middle there, yet its the redest area of all. I think it has more to do with exposure to people on an everyday basis. The modern repulican party likes to ride the wave of scapegoating. The more exposure you have to other people and poverty on a daily basis the more you vote whichever way you think is interested in abolishing such.

Originally posted by 500lbguerilla
The more exposure you have to other people and poverty on a daily basis the more you vote whichever way you think is interested in abolishing such.

Not necessarily.

The Republicans represent the absolute antithesis of a Party who cares about the needs of poor and disadvantaged people.

Yet millions upon millions of those poor and disadvantaged people in this country ---who are often poorly educated and who are near the bottom in terms of intelligence and rational thinking--- are still staunch supporters of the most Conservative politicians on the ballot, out of concerns [albeit woefully misguided concerns] for concepts like "morality" and "patriotism".

In their worldview, it doesn't matter if the far Right politician they're supporting voted to slash every social program, that he voted to cut verteran's benefits, that he voted to cut aid to underpriviledged people, that he voted for huge tax breaks for the wealthy while people are living under bridges, that he voted against job training programs for the poor, that he aided countless Corporations in avoiding worker protections............NO!.....what matters to these slack-jawed poverty-stricken folk is that their man of choice voted against burning the flag, voted against abortion, that he supported having the Ten Commandments posted in courtrooms, that he voted against gay marriage.

I had a neighbor who was a complete mess. Speed Freak, couldn't hold a job and kinda scared me half the time I saw him. Anyways on Nov. 2nd he came over and asked me if the polls were still open. I said yeah you should go down there and vote if you want to. He then started complaining about various issues from poor people getting fucked, the war, elitist tax cuts and various other issues. At that point I said well then you should go and vote for Kerry then I guess. He immediatly took a violent tone and started preaching Bush and demonizing democrats. I told him from what he said he had problems with Bush was explicitly promoting such things on a daily basis. He became very irate. He asked me who I voted for. I told him I sold my vote to my friends who in turn picked Kerry. He then became very pissed at me for this and walked off swearing.

He was sooo fucked up.

Anyways this guy has interesting guesses at why conservative are the way they are. And from what I've witness from talking to a very large number of people on both sides this rings true for many.

(starts after the blue writing)
http://driftglass.blogspot.com/2005/06/this-from-mr-gilliard.html

freethinker thinks that people can not survive without government programs. Government programs are the greatest thing the world has ever seen! those stupid idiots out there just don't know it. Its OK to call a poor person who wants to do it on their own slack jawed idiots or whatever. A poor person who insists on hand out is somehow more worthy. Ever hear of a thing called self reliance? or are you firmly entrenched in the entitlement culture?