2008: the year in political geography
DESCRIPTION
A series of maps telling the story of the 2008 election season.TRANSCRIPT
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2008: the Year in Political 2008: the Year in Political GeographyGeography
By Patrick Ottenhoff, TheElectoralMap.com
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It’s mid-2007, and Republican frontrunner Rudy Giuliani releases a series of electoral maps to argue that he’s the only candidate who can conquer the juggernaut Clinton campaign. He forecasts a 210-18 electoral vote rout.
Fall 2007
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Not to be outdone, John McCain releases a map contending that he’ll outperform Giuliani against Clinton in many states… but in classic McCain style, he also maps out where Giuliani outperforms him.
Fall 2007
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While the two frontrunners are debating electability, Ron Paul’s “money bomb” hauls in $4 million in one day, mostly from the Mountain West.
November 4, 2007
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One the state level, Bobby Jindal posts an historic victory in Louisiana, completing its transition to a Red State.
October 20, 2007
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Democrats take the Virginia Senate…
November 7, 2007
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And Beshear flips Kentucky…
November 7, 2007
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In the meantime, the New York press swoons over the idea of Michael Bloomberg running for president.
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But the real action is in Iowa…
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…Where the Obama campaign is establishing an unprecedented voter outreach network.
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It pays off. Obama wins the Hawkeye State...
January 3, 2008
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And Mike Huckabee surprises everyone by winning caucuses in nearly two-thirds of Iowa’s counties.
January 3, 2008
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The candidates take the overnight flight from Des Moines to Manchester, where McCain is waiting.
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And sure enough, the Granite State saves McCain once again.
Winnipesaukee vacationer Mitt Romney wins only a handful of towns on the Massachusetts border.
January 8, 2008
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Speaking of rescuing candidacies, New Hampshire’s four most populous counties choose Hillary Clinton, and she squeaks by Obama, 39-36%.
January 8, 2008
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The attention quickly turns to Michigan, where former Gov. George Romney’s son wins.
January 15, 2008
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Clinton posts a strong victory over Uncommitted (which claims two counties itself) in the contested Democratic primary.
January 15, 2008
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Continuing his winning streak, Romney rolls in Nevada, although Paul makes a strong statement.
January 19, 2008
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Clinton edges Obama in votes, but in a sign of what’s to come, his campaigns keeps its eye on the prize: Delegates.
January 19, 2008
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While Romney is campaigning in Nevada, McCain and Huckabee are battling it out in South Carolina. McCain wins, avenging his 2000 showing.
January 19, 2008
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Obama beats Clinton by almost two to one. Bill deftly points out that race may have played a factor.
January 19, 2008
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The attention turns to Florida, otherwise known as Giuliani's Alamo.
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Rudy’s strategy yields a grand prize of second place in Miami-Dade. He bows out of the race.
January 30, 2008
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In the disputed Democratic contest, Clinton thoroughly routs Obama.
January 30, 2008
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The candidates gear up for Super Tuesday.
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Super Tuesday. Huckabee continues to rack up delegates, winning over most of SEC Country…
February 5, 2008
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But McCain takes most big states, and shows that his candidacy is playing in Peoria…
February 5, 2008
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And the Arizona senator wins enough states to effectively box out Romney (with Huckabee’s help).
February 5, 2008
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Clinton’s investments in big states pay off...
February 5, 2008
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But Obama racks up delegates across the South and in small states.
February 5, 2008
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Leaving the two Democratic heavyweights effectively deadlocked.
February 5, 2008
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The campaign moves to the Washington Post’s backyard.
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Obama crushes Clinton in Virginia, thanks to the vote-rich urban crescent. But in a sign of what’s to come, Hillary sweeps the state’s Appalachian region.
February 12, 2008
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DC gets to exercise a meaningful vote.
January 8, 2008
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Obama goes on a February tear, winning 11 in a row.
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Trends begin to emerge in the Democratic contest.
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…And not all of them are pretty.
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As a stalemate ensues, attention turns to Texas’ awkward prima-caucus system.
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Clinton wins more counties and votes, but Obama wins more caucuses and delegates.
March 4, 2008
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And in the Buckeye State, Hillary routs Obama and mirrors a winning Strickland strategy.
March 4, 2008
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The Obama camp continues to raise money and chip away at the increasingly complex delegate count.
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Determined not to be swamped in Pennsylvania, Obama’s team simply creates new Democratic voters.
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But Clinton still posts a strong win.
April 22, 2008
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And now it’s crystal clear that Appalachia really doesn’t like the presumptive Democratic nominee.
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In the meantime, McCain decides to capitalize on his three month head start by creating a fragmented 10-region campaign structure.
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The end is in sight. Obama crushes Clinton in North Carolina.
May 6, 2008
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And nearly ties her in Indiana.
May 6, 2008
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But Hillary maintains that she can win it, and makes a last minute Power Point pitch to superdelegates on the grounds of electability.
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She has a point, but opportunities diminish.
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Clinton continues to roll in Appalachia.
May 20, 2008
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But Obama seems to match her delegate for delegate, prolonging the stalemate.
May 20, 2008
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The Obama camp gets more bullish.
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In the meantime, Democrats begin targeting – and winning – special elections in Dixie.
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The McCain camp keeps on keeping on, promising to change the map.
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…And leaving Republicans questioning their electoral map analysis.
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Obama finally wins. Democrats gather in Denver and are inundated with talk about Scranton.
August 25-28, 2008
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A week later, Republicans gather in the Twin Cities. But all eyes are on the Gulf.
September 1-4, 2008
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Alaska!
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Pundits have a field day analyzing trends and demographics.
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…And predicting voter turnout.
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…And analyzing voters’ alcoholic beverage preference.
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…And flirting with long-shot possibilities.
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…And flexing their idiocy.
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As the campaign progresses, the economy depresses. Home foreclosures grip the nation.
October, 2008
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McCain “suspends” his campaign and the two candidates return to Washington. The House passes a controversial bailout bill.
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The tide turns clearly to Obama. He has a ton more money and is swamping McCain in airtime.
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538.com explains that it’s a statistical inevitably that Obama will win.
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Election Night. Obama crushes McCain.
November 4, 2008
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He carries Florida on the backbone of Democratic gains on the I-4 Corridor.
November 4, 2008
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Obama takes Ohio.
November 4, 2008
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He wins states that Bush won by 14 points in 2004, posting huge gains in the suburbs.
November 4, 2008
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Democrats even increase their majorities in the House.
November 4, 2008
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2008 is a blue wave. Most of the country, besides Arkansas, Arizona and Appalachia shift Democratic.
November 4, 2008