It would be interesting to study whether there is a correlation between political ideology of party members and the overall political orientation of a state.
On one hand, the opposition party that has no chance of winning might become less moderate because there is no practical benefit to moderation. Moreover, people closer to the center might identify with the other party because it’s their only shot at siding with the party that has any power. On the other hand, the same regional factors that cause the state to be overwhelmingly red or blue might also cause people within parties to trend one way or the other. I’m sure there are many other factors.
Are the Southern states Clinton won more conservative/Red than the Western states Sanders won? (I know they are much more populous.)
It seems that his claim is incorrect. In 2012 the four reddest states were, in order, Utah, Wyoming, Oklahoma, and Idaho. (Although against Trump Utah might be in play.) Same four in 2008 albeit different order and an asterix for Nebraska 3rd CD above them. And even going back to 2004 it’s Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Nebraska, and Oklahoma as most Red.
Doubling back to asahi’s persistent concern regarding a serious fracture if Sanders supporters are not given a win by the superdelegates after losing the pledged delegate and popular delegate races, if he somehow wins more of the last several races and yet still falls short …
I don’t expect Sanders supporters to come around the way Clinton supporters did. It’s the difference between establishment and non-establishment support. College students are fickle about voting. Retirement-age women, less so.
I think Bernie standing up on a soap box telling all his supporters that Cruz or Trump in the white house would destroy 30 years of social progress, and that while he and Clinton may disagree about tactics both are fighting on the side of the angels will bring them back into the fold. The idea that “both the parties are the same” won’t hold up once the general election starts, and the Bernie supporters see what a true capitalist stooge looks like.
Yeah, a very healthy chunk of those voters have never voted before, so it’s not like Hillary would be losing anything with them as compared to earlier elections. Of course, more votes is always better than less…