Democrats dominate electoral college with 'Blue Wall' of states

[wyldwolf]

National Journal's Ron Brownstein analyzes election results since 1992 and finds Democrats have built their "largest and most durable Electoral College base in more than half a century." He calls it "the blue wall."

Brownstein, political director for Atlantic Media, says 18 states and the District of Columbia have now voted for the Democratic nominee in the last five presidential elections -- the party's best performance since carrying 22 states in five elections from 1932 to 1948.

The new blue wall is worth 248 electoral votes -- 90% of the 270 it takes to win the White House. And it's not just a presidential thing. Democrats hold more than 70% of House seats in the 18 states, Brownstein notes, along with two-thirds of the governorships, two-thirds of the legislative seats, every state House chamber and 16 of 18 state Senates.

Brownstein says shrinking Republican support among minorities and moderate-to-liberal, well educated whites is "a daunting trend" for the GOP. He quotes Steve Schmidt, chief strategist to 2008 nominee John McCain, as saying the party "must appeal to a broader majority of people. That is now the challenge."

The 18 states of the wall: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2009/01/democrats-domin.html

[BlooInBloo]

1. (shrug) The repubulcans made their choice 40 years ago...

when they decided to become the Bigot Party.

It served them well for that period of time. Now that white folks are losing their stranglehold on the electoral demographics, not so much.

[No Elephants]

2. For the moment. We must not get complacent or let down our guard, though.

[wyldwolf]

3. RIGHT! 1990s ring a bell?

[Ilsa]

4. Kick for the night crew... Great information. Thanks. nt