Question about Iowa caucus and N.H. primary

[brentspeak]

When was the last time either state went Blue in a presidential election? If it was a while back, have either recently come close to going Blue?

I ask this after reading that Dean suggests that both Iowa and N.H. lose their status as the first tests of the Dem nomination schedule.

[Shoeempress]

1. New Hampshire 2004 we went Blue

[Pirate Smile]

2. Iowa in 2000. It was a swing state in 2004.

[brentspeak]

3. If Iowa and N.H. are occasionally Blue, or leaning....

...then I question the tactic of taking away both of their traditional roles of being the first steps in the Dem nomination process.

My reasoning: residents of the two states may try to stick it to the Democrats. Hurt feelings, and all.

[Pirate Smile]

4. They are both swing states. I believe NH was red in 2000.

[FightinNewDem]

5. NH

NH went Dem in the 2004, 1996, and 1992 presidential races. In 2000, it came up short by only about 7,000 votes.

NH has been trending Dem over the last 15 years. In that time, we have won the 2nd congressional district in 1990 and 1992, the governor's race in 1996, '98, 2000, and 2004, and controlled the state senate during the 1998-2000 session.

One of the important things to remember about the NH primary is the fact that it provides a good bellweather of sentiment among independent voters. Indies can take either a Dem or Rep ballot, and a candidate with a strong appeal to independent voters, such as Paul Tsongas, John McCain, etc. will often beat candidates with stronger party insider support (eg, Harkin and Bush).

[ISUGRADIA]

6. Iowa: 2000, 1996, 1992, 1988

In 88 Iowa was Dukakis' 3rd or 4th best state.

[EST]

7. I think all the old "tried and true" ways of doing things

are, in light of the need to get away from a failing paradigm, sadly outmoded, at best, and at worst, deserving of being tossed into the ash bin of history.

In my considered opinion, the primaries, all across the country, should be held within the same week, culminating with an entirely new form of nominating convention immediately thereafter.
This is a new century, a new constituency, deserving, perhaps, even of a new name.

Business as usual is a sure bet to obtain results as usual. If the only reason any particular group of people has to vote against creeping fascism is the exposure they get as the "first," that bunch needs to re-examine its own motives, not hold the rest of the country hostage. (Maybe "racing fascism would be a better term)