Obama's Victory Propelled by Support in Fast-Growing Swing-State Suburbs

[marmar]

Obama's Victory Propelled by Support in Fast-Growing Suburbs

By Indira A.R. Lakshmanan

Nov. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Barack Obama was propelled to victory by the fastest-growing segments of the U.S. electorate -- suburbanites, minorities and young voters.

Two-thirds of voters from 18 to 29 years old favored Obama, a 12 percentage-point increase from 2004's presidential vote. Obama also attracted votes from two out of three Hispanics, the fastest-growing demographic group, making the difference in Florida, Colorado and other states with significant Hispanic populations. More than 40 percent of Hispanics voted for President George W. Bush four years ago.

Communities that put the Democratic president-elect over the top in a half-dozen Republican-leaning and swing states -- Virginia, Florida and North Carolina in the South, Ohio and Pennsylvania in the industrial Rust Belt, and Colorado in the Rocky Mountain West -- say a lot about the changing face of the U.S. electorate.

``Suburbs at this point are the middle ground in America,'' said Robert Lang, director of Virginia Tech University's Metropolitan Institute in Alexandria. With ``a changing metropolitan population and a fast-growing one, they are barometers of where we're going.''

In a series of crucial states, Obama reversed historical Republican majorities in areas like the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., and greatly expanded support in Democratic- leaning areas, such as suburban Philadelphia. .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aYBlsns1sOYA&refer=home

[Romulox]

1. "Obamacons" are just rats deserting a sinking ship.

Nothing noble about that.

[marmar]

2. Who cares? As long as they voted the right way.....

n/t

[Romulox]

3. Who cares? Rahm Emmanuel, for one. nt

[Romulox]

4. Nancy "Dry Powder" Pelosi, for another. nt