Rhode Island
4 votes
Kerry - 21 points
The last time this state voted Republican...
... Arnold Schwartzenegger made the first 'Terminator' film.
Race
- Overwhelmingly white
Nothing to report here.
Age
All groups - Kerry
A few differences among groups. Nothing significant.
Economics
All groups - Kerry
Kerry won all social strata though it should be noted that his
support waned considerably above $100,000.
Politics
- Very low partisanship
- Huge Democratic tilt
- Below average Democratic loyalty
- Average Republican loyalty
- Independents tilt significantly Democratic
Democratic loyalty is not especially high here but doesn't matter
much in a state where only 16% of the populace is Republican. At
21 points the state has the highest margin of Democrats to
Republicans outside D.C. and Massachusetts. Interestingly,
Rhode Island also has the lowest partisanship of any state.
Forty-five percent of the voters are independents. Those indies
put their heft behind Kerry by 13 points. Overall, demographics
are similar to Massachusetts.
Ideology
- Significant liberal tilt
Yes, Virginia there are still liberals left in America and many of
them live here. They outnumber conservatives by a 27%-21%
margin and better yet they are more loyal to the Democrats than
conservatives are to the Republicans. Best of all the moderates
voted for Kerry by almost 2-1. This tiny state is bluer than a
depressed smurf.
Religion
- Catholic majority
- Sizable Protestant population
Fifty-seven percent of this small state is Catholic making it far
and away the most Catholic state in the union and the only one
with a Catholic majority. Bush did win 52% of the Protestant vote
but they aren't calling the shots here and the Catholics picked
Kerry by 19 points.
Demographics
- Majority suburban
- Sizable urban population
- Small rural population
More than two thirds of this tiny state is suburban and 55% of
them picked Kerry. He got even huger margins in the urban and
the very few rural areas.
Other factors
Interestingly, 49% approve of the war and 50% approve of Bush.
Both represent pluralities. But he lost Pennsylvania anyway.


The Land of the Blue
Where centrism and progressivism meet