What is wrong with Pennsylvania? It should not be this close for a traditional blue state

[still_one]

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. A divisive primary, imho.

Methinks it'll go blue, though.

[still_one]

3. Doesn't labor realize how screwed they will be under mccain/bush? /nt

[BlooInBloo]

8. For jillions of white folks, especially the hicks of PA, race > interests.

[CANDO]

21. I'm a Central PA Teamster

And it makes me sick the number of fellow Teamsters who are God, guns, and gays Republicans. I've had so many arguments with these guys over the years, and there is never any give on their part. They don't care that the Repubs hate unions and do everything in their power to undermine labor rights. They don't care! These are tough guy types who totally buy into the rugged individualist message of the right. Of course, these guys lay low and don't say too much about their politics while in Philly or Jersey City or NYC where the street-tough union types are.

[still_one]

30. It is really sad, because that has been the goal of rove and the current republicans

to destroy the unions

I hope they look real carefully into where the candidates stand

[WCGreen]

35. That's the same here in Ohio...

I finnaly asked one of them how could they afford a gun if the republicans emasculated the union movement.

[saltpoint]

2. Like a lot of states, urban areas tend to go stronger for Dems while

the rural stretches are more red.

Pennsylvania has always been a bit of a fight for us, but we've done well there, if by narrow margins.

I think we carry it again.

[still_one]

5. It is just quite un-nerving, especially after the past eight years /nt

[saltpoint]

10. I hear you. The Gallup polling is now showing Obama ahead

nationally by 4 points, which considering Gallup's conservative bent, is more likely 6 or 7, and maybe higher.

Palin means next to nothing to people in many parts of the country. Pennsylvania is Joe Biden's home state.

Agree with you completely that it's unnerving but I feel some strong encouragement that the McCain rationale is fading and Obama's is on the rise.

[BlooInBloo]

4. Of course PA will be close - Obama is black. But it'll be a solid win for us.

[blueinindiana]

6. RACISM.......and a DLC HIllBot Governor

Racism by far is the biggest factor then there is Governor Rendell who is upset cause he is not going to be able to ride the Clinton gravy train into office this year so he and his ilk hope by installing McCain they will get a chance in '12.

Much of this stuff is out of Obama's hand he can't do anything about racists and he therei snot much he can do with DLC assholes like Rendell.

Hopefully new voters and black voters will overcome this racism and DLC shit.

[blm]

15. I think there are still too many Dems who don't understand that if a state's elected Dems

decide to sit on their fat hands in certain election years, then it is VERY easy for Republicans in that state to assert undue control over the election process.

[FLAprogressive]

18. Exactly! DLC Hillbots are to blame for this one. n/t

[DiamondKrosse]

34. yes, its all Hillary's fault

nothing to do with calling voters "bitter" and "clinging to their guns"

[JVS]

7. PA industrial areas have been depopulated since the 1980's. The old stay behind, the young move out

As a result its blueness has faded

[BlooInBloo]

9. Pittsburgh at least isn't like that. *Nobody* leaves.

[JVS]

11. Yes we do. Check NC, there are assloads of former Yinzers who have settled there.

The reason housing is affordable in PGH is that you went from an in the city population of 500K to 300K

[BlooInBloo]

13. Well, the love of my life wouldn't leave. That's everybody, as far as I'm concerned.

:P

[WorseBeforeBetter]

33. Pittsburgh is better than NC, trust me on that one. (n/t)

[JVS]

14. BTW Allegheny County has the 2nd oldest population in the US. Miami-dade is higher.

The old people don't leave because when they find out how much selling their house will buy them in FL, they can't cut it. The young get out for better opportunities.

[mdmc]

12. its a black thing, imho

or the lack thereof.

I was down in Pike County, PA doing my GOTV thing with my brother in law. I was wearing by bootleg Obama cap while filling up at a gas station. An older guy came up to me while I was filling. He noticed my NYS plates and my Obama hat.

"So you like Obama?" he asked me.

"Not really," I replied. "I really liked McCain. I supported him in 2000, and voted for Bush twice. I just don't think that that lady is qualified to run the free world. McCain had my vote up until his vice president pick."

The guy didn't know what to say. He started to fill up his car. I asked him if he liked Ron Paul. Again he didn't know what to say. "I guess." he replied. I encouraged him to vote for either Bob Barr or Obama. He didn't reply.

PA is filled with racists. Obama will have to work hard. The good news is that racists are also kinda sexist. Even the women.

[glowing]

16. I'd have to say its the black thing and the primary... I think they'll be ok

Wait for the debates to go.. and then it should be better #'s should look better.

[radfringe]

17. carville's description of PA

"Philadelphia in the east, Pittsburgh in the west and Alabama in the middle!"

[spinbaby]

20. Not true

Alabama is a good deal less racist than rural Pennsylvania. Uniontown is rumored to be the nexus of KKK activity in this country. I totally believe it.

[still_one]

22. I don't know I am from California, however, does "uniontown" realize that mccain wants to destroy

the unions

[kittykitty]

24. South Central, PA-Franklin County. KKK activity in SE corner of the county and

in adjoining Maryland area. And maybe in other parts of Franklin County, but not visible. Few Obama signs around.

[MadrasT]

31. Huh WTF Uniontown?

As in Chester-County-south-of-Coatesville Uniontown??? :wtf: (Or is that one "Unionville"??)

Where's Uniontown?

[WorseBeforeBetter]

36. Near Fallingwater and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort...

in the southwestern corner. Beautiful area.

[MountainLaurel]

25. My mom has always called it Pennsyltucky

For the same reasons.

[Geek_Girl]

28. IMHO Racism

My relatives from there all seemed to be a bit racist.

They were Italian American's from South Philly.

[DebJ]

19. There is also a blind hard commitment to 'smaller governement'

People here are idiots.

[aikoaiko]

23. too many who are bitter and clinging to guns and religion.

:sarcasm:

Seriously, that seemingly minor gaffe, resonated in a bad way with the type of voter Obama needed to woo.

[JerseygirlCT]

26. Apparently...

which says to me that it struck home on some level, you know?

[JerseygirlCT]

27. There is definitely a lot of the state that is much more conservative.

The big cities and surrounding burbs are usually strong Dem, but the middle of the state, not so much.

[Obamarama]

29. I think "what's wrong: begins with the letter "R"...

And it isn't Republicans.

Racism is the elephant in the living room, I'm sad to say. Same thing here in MI.

[4 t 4]

32. Wake the F up...

the polls are all fake!

[cbear70]

37. You are right... my family

is from Pennsylvania..and yes it is race... they do not trust him... I am so disappointed in what I am hearing from them and their friends.. actually I really cannot believe they would vote the old guy and barbie in...:grr: I can't believe the state I grew up in has turned towards the red...

Now I am in Iowa and happy to be here..Obama all the way..my mom moved out..she is for Palin because my mom only votes on one issue...the a word..we have many fights and I can't sway her, can't even get her to turn off faux news. She told my son the other day that she won't vote for Obama because "those kind of people are angry and that is scary and because faux news said he is a muslim" Uggg..

Hubby said he hopes she can find the voting place by herself cuz he is not showing her..

[Avalux]

38. NOTHING. PA will go blue. Quit listening to the polls. n/t

[MrSlayer]

39. Racism is the only reason this election isn't a laugher.

You will see wards in Philadelphia that went 90% for Kerry going red because of it. And the suburbs that Kerry surprisingly won last time? Gone for the same reason. I've stopped talking to many of my union co-workers who simply will not vote for a black man. We're going to need every one of those new registrations to come out and vote if we want to win here. It's pretty disheartening. And it would have been no different had Hillary won the primary.