Why is Maryland more Democratic than other Southern states? (nt)

[Eric J in MN]

nt

[displacedtexan]

1. The Dems in Maryland are extremely kind people!

There's a kind of Southern kindness here, which makes the repukes cringe.

There are so few repukes that you can spot them a mile away!

That Dem kindness never stops, either! Everyone I know does some kind of volunteer work.

[DebJ]

2. I lived in Maryland for 48 years. Maryland is not socially a

"Southern" state. For decades, lots of people have moved in to Maryland after living there on one of quite a few military bases, or working in DC or the surrounding area for the federal government.
Being next to DC gives lots of cultural exchange.

There are also lots of high density population centers around DC in Montgomery and Prince George's county.

I was surprised when I visited Charlotte NC about 15 years ago, and it seemed they rolled up the sidewalks in the town after 6-7pm...literally nothing to do.

Maryland's denser areas have lots of 24 hour stuff going on.

Before the Repuke governor there now, the last Republican governor was Agnew....remember what happened to him? And there was one other Repub governor who ended up getting disbarred for something he did with racetracks.

[DebJ]

3. I moved to Pa last year. Culture shock!

[Stinky The Clown]

8. Marvin Mandel

[DemPopulist]

4. It's not a Southern state

[Cozmosis]

5. Yep.

[Machiavelli05]

21. Actually... it is

MD is south of the Mason Dixon line.
It was not a confederate state b/c Lincoln occupied it to prevent it from suceding.
However, MD was a slave state and was a border state and very much on the fence in the Civil War.

Currently, it still is very southern - the real mason dixon line should be a line from the northern tip of DC to the east and the west. PG and Charles is very southern-ish, Montgomery is very northeastern.

Thats just the way it is.

The reason MD is so liberal is its high population of african americans and jews, as well as federal workers and lawyers. The progressive reputation attracts many more (suburban white) Democrats b/c of the likemindedness of their surroundings.

[Alex72]

24. Southern? Yeah right.

Nope, it's not a southern state. The Mason-Dixon line was not created to represent a north/south divide, it was solely the conclusion to an age old dispute between MD and PA. Maybe you'll understand better if I explain it like this...

The north, like the south, is divided into sub-region. The south has the south Atlantic, the southwest, the plains south, and the gulf south. The northeast is comprised of the Middle Atlantic - ranging from Maryland to New York, and New England - all the states above and to the east of New York.

So, no, there should not be a 'revised' M/D line, as you imply. It appears you were quite ignorant of the survey line's actual purpose, and not what it was perceived to be years later. Neither Charles, nor Prince Georges have a southern feel; I lived in Charles for 19 years, and grew up in Prince Georges, before moving to CC. I'll give you though, St. Mary's has *some* degree of influence from Virginia.

As for the black population being the reason for it being a blue state, this too is a not a complete truth. While the blacks do contribute to it, they are not the sole reason for MD being Democratic. There are legions of white urban, and suburban households that lean left, stretching from every corner of the state, though a little less in Western MD.

I hope this clears up all further ideas you have about the state's region.

[madinmaryland]

25. Welcome to DU!! You are right. Other than the areas west of Frederick,

and the eastern shore, the state is very blue.

[LiberalEsto]

26. But we don't drink sweet iced tea

at least not the kind they drink in the South.

[CC]

27. Some do. n/t

[madinmaryland]

28. Ugh. I hate sweet tea. I prefer fresh-brewed unsweeted ice tea!

[LiberalEsto]

29. Me too.

All that sugar - ugh.
I wonder if sweet tea was invented by Southern dentists.

[DaveinMD]

6. Maryland

was not part of the confederacy. It is also a more diverse state and has a huge number of people who work for the federal government.

[DjTj]

7. More importantly not part of Reconstruction...

Although south of the Mason-Dixon line and a slave state, Lincoln kept Maryland from seceding and has been free from the South ever since.

[Stinky The Clown]

9. I read the preceding replies ..... you're forgetting Western MD and ......

........ the Eastern Shore. Much more of the "Old South" there. And also quite "red-state-ish". But they are significantly smaller part of the population than Balt City and County, Montgomery County, Prince Georges County and Anne Arundel County. This is the population base, racially very diverse, and the model of a Democrat population.

[mcg]

11. and southern MD, I've seen confederate flags in some places in MD

also the Hagerstown area is red.

Here's a map of the 2004 presidential election results:

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/MD/P/00/map.html

[Mutley]

30. I went to high school in northern Baltimore County

and it was VERY common for kids there to drive around with confederate flags.

[puddycat]

10. Do you really mean to say "liberal" rather than "Democratic"?

I ask this because there are large numbers of registered Democrats on the Eastern Shore and in Western Maryland who are very conservative, especially socially. They just never changed their party affiliation to Republican.

The influence of the South still pervades Maryland in interesting ways. Food, for example: Southern cooking is widespread in Maryland, and you can always find a box of grits on the supermarket shelves.

[AuntiBush]

12. RE: Maryland is mostly Democrat

Living in MD for all of my 48 years, and meeting/knowing/associated with many people of many variables, almost everyone I know is a Democrat. Sadly, in this election many of the elderly were "duped" by their priests (Catholics)... they were adamant Kerry supporters, and the days leading up to the election (within the last few days) they suddenly "had" to change their votes, accordingly. Some actually avoided me and this from folks that trusted me highly, and knew originally I was for Bush, till I started doing my homework, researching all I could as the election heated-up.

Demographically, if you're looking for a red-neck area, Cecil County would be high on the list; Harford County is predominately Republican, and we are actually a solid Blue state, so the link provided by another poster (CNN's map) is wrong... sorry.

Baltimore City/County - Democrats

We've had the same Congressmen and woman in office since I was a teen, and both are Demo's. Our gov (repub) is about ready to be hung-out to dry - he too is using education related taxes to fund local racetracks, tries to overpower the city's mayor who has fought him hands-down all the way (O'Malley), he's in hot water hitting 2 highly regarded reporters for our Sun Newspaper, a Democratic paper, and there is trouble brewing over his selling of our so-called protected lands right, right now, to outside wavery parties.

[Blue State Blues]

13. Another map of mostly Dem MD

The senate race looks a little more typical blue-state Maryland than the 2004 Presidential race did.

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/MD/S/01/map.html

[Chalco]

14. Believe me it's not all blue

here. Even on my street in Montgomery County--very Dem--I wore a Bush mask with a derogatory sign and you could tell immediately who was pro and who was con. So the repugs came out of the woodwork.

Also, when you get out of metropolitan areas it's as red as can be. Erhlich capitalized on that. That's how he got in.

[nickshepDEM]

15. I dont understand some parts of Maryland

and the whole United States for that respect. I live in Dundalk, Maryland which is far from being a "rich" neighborhood. Hell, half of the people in Dundalk arent even middle class. Yet, their seems to be SOME strong support for republicans in this area. Do these people not understand that they will never benefit from a republican tax cut in thier life time? Even more they will probably never benefit from any type of Republican domestic policy. It should be ILLEGAL to vote Republican if you are an area like mine. I just dont understand these people.

[DaveinMD]

16. racism

in 1996, I was working for Labor 96. Ehrlich was a Freshman Rep back then and we were trying to beat him. Leafleting, a there said to me I'm voting for Ehrlich because he'll keep the ni--ers out. That was based on his opposition to section 8 housing.

[nickshepDEM]

17. Yeah you definitley have a point there.

Anyways, what issues do you think O'Malley or Duncan can and will use to attack Ehrilch on durring the campaign? I read the Baltimore Sun often and I rarley hear anything THAT BAD about "Bobby Boy." Untill recently with the selling of government land and what not. Does he have any major mess ups?

[DaveinMD]

18. the land deal will be one for sure

The culture of corruption that he promised to get rid of has been running rampant.

He will be attacked for historic increases in college tuition.

He will be attacked for raised hundred of taxes and fees without solving the state's fiscal situation.

These are just a few of the issues that can be raised.

[Zuni]

22. Big one-- veto of medical reform in petty antics

to piss of the Democrats after pushing for special sessions

[DaveinMD]

23. tax increases

will be another. Ehrlich has raised hundreds of taxes on working people.

[AuntiBush]

19. In Dundalk too

I have been thinking "exactly" the same thing! What's up around here? Maybe they're undereducated!?! Nice to see a fellow Dundalkian out here, as well!

[nickshepDEM]

20. Have you ever been to...

The Dunkin Donuts on Wise Ave? That should be Bob Ehrlichs political head quarters. Every car in that parking lot has a "We Love our Gov" bumper sticker.