Nebraska
5 votes
Bush - 33 points
The last time this state voted Democratic....
... President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act.
Race
- Overwhelmingly white
Nothing to report here.
Age
All groups - Bush
Young voters chose Bush by 22 points. That was as good as it
got for Kerry. I'll spare you the details.
Economics
All groups - Bush
Unlike many red states, even the poorest Nebraskans showed
no inclination toward the Democrats. No significant economic
differences were apparent. This phenomenon was common
through many Rocky Mountain/Great Plains states. Not as
common in the Old South.
Politics
- Average partisanship
- Overwhelming Republican tilt
- Terrible Democratic loyalty
- Excellent Republican loyalty
- Independents tilt slightly Democratic
Nebraska is among a handful of states so heavily Republican
that the GOP actually makes up an absolute majority of the
electorate - 53% in this case. In short, even if every Democrat
AND every independent voted for Kerry Bush would still win. Not
that every independent or every Democrat was willing to do that.
The literally-unbeatable Republican majority is supported by one
of every five Democratic voters as well. Oddly, the independents
do vote Democratic here by four points - an strange thing in a red
state, but it simply means that the indies really are indies. There
are few "closet Republicans" here. There is no need in a state
where declared Republicans outnumber Democrats by more
than 2-1.
Ideology
- Huge conservative tilt
At a 28-point spread, conservatives easily outnumber liberals,
who at 13 percent, run eight points below the national average.
Even then liberals vote less loyally to party than conservatives.
Moderate mostly vote Republican here, as well.
Religion
- Heavily Protestant
- Significant Catholic population
Nothing significant to report here.
Demographics
- Rural majority
- Large urban population
Some might be surprised that more than 40 percent of
Nebraska's population is considered urban. But even they voted
Bush - lightly. His real margin came from the rural majority which
went 3-1 in his favor. Only one county in the state voted for Kerry.
Other factors
A stunning near two-thirds of Nebraskans like Bush and the war.
This is among the reddest states in the union.


The Land of the Blue
Where centrism and progressivism meet