# Do state platforms generally have any real effect on elections?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-state-platforms-generally-have-any-real-effect-on-elections/545038>\
**Category:** Politics & Elections\
**Created:** [June 30, 2010, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-state-platforms-generally-have-any-real-effect-on-elections/545038 "2010-06-30T05:26:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
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**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-state-platforms-generally-have-any-real-effect-on-elections/545038/1 "2010-06-30T05:26:24Z")

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So I’ve been reading how both the [Texas (PDF)](http://static.texastribune.org/media/documents/FINAL_2010_STATE_REPUBLICAN_PARTY_PLATFORM.pdf) and [Montana](http://www.mtgop.org/platform.aspx) Republican party platforms call for the illegalization (or continued illegalization) of “homosexual acts.” I thought about how repulsive that would be to many, even some conservatives.

Then I wondered: has a state party platform ever been particularly relevant to its candidate’s chances in general? Or, to put it more in perspective for this particular forum, would it have any real effect in boosting or hurting GOP candidates in Texas and Montana?

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