Why are many presidential candidates always from the same state?

[jcrew2001]

I was thinking that many presidential candidates are coming from the same states. Massachusetts has Kerry and Romney, Dukakis, Tsongas. New york had Cuomo and Hillary, & Rudy. Kansas has Dole and Brownback. Arkansas has Clinton and Huckabee.

I'm just surprised, particularly at the Republican strength in the south, that there isn't more state diversity among Presidential contenders.

Maybe its got something to do with the states themselves. Does anyone have any thoughts?

I'm amused that Brownback is running from Dole's old Senate seat - can't wait for those campaign attack ads.

Huckabee kinda sounds like a moderate Dem at times, trying to work the Clinton magic.

[illinoisprogressive]

1. Obama is from Illinois

[jcrew2001]

9. hillary

You can claim hillary and Obama are from the same state.

Unless Obama embraces his hawaii roots instead of Illinois.

Hillary is not considered from Ark - only Bill has support there.

[Cabcere]

2. We used to have a bunch of Presidents from my home state of Virginia,

back in the day. :shrug: But yeah, it is weird that a lot of candidates seem to be concentrated in one state or another.

[jcrew2001]

10. allen

You lucked out that Allen and Warner both dropped out. I'm surprised jon warner never ran for president - he's got a good record, not counting liz taylor.

[Cabcere]

15. Shhh.

We don't like to talk about Allen much. ;) And Gilmore's almost as bad...pretty much single-handedly ran our economy into the ground. :puke: Do you know if he's still running, by any chance? I'm not too worried about his chances - even the most hardcore tax-hating Republicans couldn't get another Republican elected after he screwed everything up. Thank goodness for Mark Warner! I wish he would've run for President, but I certainly understand his reasons for not wanting to.

[Breeze54]

3. Because they all move around!

HRC is from Arkansas not NY

Romney is from Michigan ( He was another "Drive By Governor!" ) ;)

Kerry is from Massachusetts, I think. Maybe not born here but grew up here.

Tsongas??? Dukakis??? :shrug: huh?

But they have all attended colleges in the North East or close enough.

[jcrew2001]

8. mass

Paul Tsongas and Mike Dukakis were from massachusetts. Dukakis ran in 88.

[JI7]

4. you are leaving out a lot of people

Edwards is from North Carolina, Obama from Illinois, Mondale was Minnesota, . Gore Tennessee. 2004 primary had Dean from Vermont, Gephardt from Missouri etc.

McCain is Arizona.

Huckabee isn't even a seirous candidate at this point.

[jcrew2001]

6. not all

Obv not all the candidates - i meant in the last 20 years, so many contenders have come from the same states - its like presidential ambition is in the water.

I used to think everyone wanted to be president, but maybe not anymore - be it money, personality, skeletons, etc.

[Toucano]

5. The "Mother of Presidents" is Ohio.

She has eight sons.

[jcrew2001]

7. who

who's from ohio?

[Toucano]

12. .

Harrison*
Grant
Hayes
Garfield
Harrison
McKinley
Taft
Harding


* Born in VA, but lived in Ohio at the time of election.

[Critters2]

13. Illinoisans like to claim Grant

He lived in Galena. I've toured his house!

[Toucano]

16. Born in Point Pleasant, Ohio.

Buried in NYC.

It's like how Ohio claims Harrison, though he was born in Virginia.

Everyone wants you when you make it big.

[Cabcere]

17. I've always heard that Virginia was the "Mother of Presidents"

with eight sons, but then again my education system may be slightly biased (see my location). ;)

In school, we were always taught that these eight were "ours:"

1) George Washington**
2) Thomas Jefferson**
3) James Madison
4) James Monroe**
5) William Henry Harrison*
6) John Tyler**
7) Zachary Taylor*
8) Woodrow Wilson*

*Technically, Harrison, Taylor, and Wilson were politically based in other states (which I didn't really know until now, sadly enough), but Wilson especially is considered one of our own - his Presidential library is located in the town where I used to live. :)

**Jefferson, Monroe, and Tyler all graduated from my College. Washington did not technically attend college, but he obtained his surveyor's license here. Washington and Tyler also both served as Chancellor. (Yes, this is the kind of stuff I look up when I'm procrastinating. Sad, isn't it?) :P

[Alexander]

11. Poor Connecticut - we got Lieberman, Bush and Samuel Huntington (1789)

All losers.

Dodd's not my first choice (I am still holding out for a Gore run) but it sure would be nice to have a president from CT we can brag about.

[jcrew2001]

18. rfk

rfk jr needs to move to ct and run for senate.

[TahitiNut]

14. High population states have the most electoral votes.

It's assumed that the state will back their "favorite son" (or daughter).