We Didn't Expect To Win WV, Did We?

[CAcyclist]

Are the republicans now floating dead ends for us to investigate or is this story accurate? Was WV ever in play?


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/16/politics/16wvirginia.html?oref=login&pagewanted=all

West Virginia Heads Down a Political Road Less Taken

CHARLESTON, W. Va., Nov. 12 - On the eve of the presidential election, Democrats here could practically taste victory for Senator John Kerry.

Senator Robert C. Byrd, the party's revered elder statesman, headlined boisterous rallies that seemed to augur a huge Democratic turnout. Coal miners and steel workers pounded on doors urging loyalists to vote. All that remained was for Democrats, who outnumber Republicans in this state by two to one, to do what they have done so many times before: vote the party line.

But they did not. President Bush trounced Mr. Kerry by 13 percentage points, doubling his margin of victory in West Virginia from 2000 and becoming the first Republican since William McKinley to win this once reliably Democratic state twice.

[chicagojoe]

1. Fear. The Radical Right runs on fear, and they scared a lot of people.

"We have nothing to fear but fear itself."
These are the truest words I have ever known in my life.
These words are my religion.

[indy_azcat]

2. No, but * did much better than than the polls

indicated (seems to be a theme).

At electoral-vote.com, Kerry ended up as predicted, but shrub gained quite a bit:
http://www.electoral-vote.com/states/west-virginia.html

All the lurkers are wandering out :scared:

[CAcyclist]

3. Huh

Well, then maybe that should be investigated. I am particularly concerned that the Secretary of State lost. The republicans seem to be particularly targeting the SoS's everywhere.

[bullimiami]

5. that last poll was mason dixon

im sorry but Im not impressed with their record.
the last zogby poll showed it within a few points with bush under 50%.

WV to me is suspicious as well.
Around half of the state uses optical scan. With a mixed bag of punch cards etc.

I would like to see the data for WV I dont trust it. It just swung too heavy for Bush on Election day.

[indy_azcat]

6. I agree

but unless you were considered a swing state, the pollsters didn't seem to give a hoot. Any (unadulterated) exit poll data wandering around out there for WV?

[indy_azcat]

9. Post Exit Poll

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/elections/2004/graphics/exitPolls_westvirginia.html?referrer=email

Not that I know what to think about exit polls anymore... but this one seems the match the final tally (K/E 43% B/C 56%).

[JI7]

4. no, Kerry campaigned there a lot, but the "cultural" issues

were hurting him. most of the things i read at the time were about how they liked Kerry on the economy but had issues with him on things like abortion rights, gun control, gay rights etc.

in the end they left WV off their lists of final states to campaign in and focused on states which were more competitive.

[lizzieforkerry]

7. Dont forget this is were the Rep

mailed the flyer that Kerry was going to ban the bible and let gays get married. I think a lot of people got the flyer but then didn't hear the media debunk it. I wonder why since they talked about for maybe an hour one day. The RNC even admitted that they sent it out.

[WI_DEM]

8. it was a hope that we could get WVA back

but since Kerry and Edwards didn't appear in the state after mid Sept. it was doubtful it was ever a top target.

[bleever]

10. McKinley?? There's a tip-off for you. Rove is an avowed

admirer of McKinley's political operative, Mark Hannah, and has used McKinley's political trajectory as inspiration for his own plans. Frankly, the stink isn't confining itself to limited areas at this point.