My biggest regret about the outcome in the Centennial state is that my dearest cousin, J, didn't live to see this day. He died from the complications of Lou Gehrig's disease in mid-May of this year. J. embodied that mythical spirit of the Rockies, and I know doubt would have delighted from his pithy and to-the-point insights. J., RIP.
In spite of a last minute rally in Colorado, McCain lost this state. And here's one of the reasons why: Early Voting. You can fly in at the last minute to rally the troops, but if 35% of your potential troops have already cast their votes, your rally's only 2/3's as potential effective as it otherwise might have been. Coloradoans are not only one among 22 states with this option; they took full advantage of it this time around.
When Obama's last set of rally's in the state (Denver & Colorado Springs) brought out nearly 200,000 people, while the next day, McCain could scarcely scare up 3,000 in Denver; I knew the dye was cast in this rocky mountain paradise.
Yet the map shows some really interesting and dramatic results. It's sort of like a squishy sandwich with the Dems in the middle. 10 counties (the most sparsely populated in the state) went for McCain to the tune of 70% or more, and 5 supported Obama at the same rate.
The ten Republican strongholds are among the most isolated in the state. In fact, the eastern block is split in both the northern most reach and in the south and in both instances, major interstates run through the neighboring counties where the margin of victory is lessened. I won't try to over analyze this, but it would seem that contact with the outside world of a human nature (everyone has access to the world via TV) makes some difference.
The Democratic strongholds include the cities of Denver, Bolder, Aspen, and Telluride. Costilla County is the only one who's extreme results lack an urban nexus. And perhaps that's the last word on Colorado: Hispanic turnout and their near 80% Democratic support. Si Se Puedemos! And, “Yes, We DID”.
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