Obama’s Strength in the Red States
The polling numbers for Obama are phenomenal nationwide – ranging from the low 60s to the low 80s, depending on the pollster.
What’s most striking are the numbers in red states – and in red regions of states.
My home state of Tennessee voted for McCain by 57-42. Obama’s job approval before the election was 45% in Tennessee. Today, it’s 60%. In Texas it’s 62%. I don’t have access to Rasmussen’s internal numbers, but my guess is that Obama’s support is robust across the state, including in heavily GOP East Tennessee. Casual conversation with people who clearly did not vote for Obama show a lot of hope for his Administration and tentative support.
In Kansas and Kentucky Obama has also hit 62%. In Appalachian Eastern Kentucky, Obama’s approval is 71%. Eastern KY showed some of the biggest shifts from Kerry to McCain between 2004 and 2008. It seems that Obama has soothed doubters here in Appalachia.
Most amazing is the number in Alabama. The statewide number, 60% is impressive on its own. But look at the racial breakdown. Remember that only 10% of white Alabamians voted for Barack Obama. Today, 49% of white Alabamians approve of Obama’s job performance, with 30% disapproving.
That’s just phenomenal when you consider the racial polarization in the Deep South this election. If Barack Obama is getting roughly 50% support among white Alabamians – even right after the glow of inauguration – we really have reached a new age.
3 Responses to “Obama’s Strength in the Red States”
Well, my Mom was one of the 10% of whites people who voted for Obama in Alabama. My brother and his wife's family still can't stand Obama and they will be the last Republicans in the universe.
According to a recent election map I saw, even though Obama retook many states that were considered Republican strongholds the break down by counties shows a different story. Most of the counties Obama won in red and blue states were urban. Rural counties still went overwhelmingly Republican. If I can find that map I'll post the location.
Maine,
That's definitely true – with some exceptions. Look at the numbers in the Atlanta suburbs, the Birmingham suburbs, the Nashville suburbs and the Houston and Dallas suburbs. Those areas, not the rural counties, were the bulwarks to GOP domination in the South. If they move toward swing county status those states will be in play for Democrats.
Rural Southern counties are losing population. Where they are gaining, they are becoming more suburban. That trend will make them even more Republican for a couple of cycles before they turn radical toward the Democrats.