Indiana: The Bastard Stepchild of Swing States
And now from the unreported news category: Barack Obama leads John McCain, 47% to 44%, in… Indiana.
You read that right. Obama is in the lead in Indiana, according to polling completed yesterday by the Indianapolis Star.
That's Indiana, as is the state that hasn't voted for a Democrat for president in 44 years. Indiana, which voted 60% to 39% for George Bush over John Kerry in 2004. Indiana, whose record on race relations prominently features murdering African-American encyclopedia salesgirls with screwdrivers.
Now, Indiana rarely makes the Washington media elite's short lists of swing states, losing out to flashier states like Florida and New Mexico. However, with this kind of surprise polling Indiana should be at the top of those lists, and its 11 electoral votes to be considered fully up for grabs.
Well, I guess the truth is that the New York Times was reporting on the trend of Indiana Republicans going for Obama way back in March.
But that got swept up under the rug pretty quickly in favor of more flashy swing states… Ohio! Nevada! Colorado!
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I have frequently dissed my home state of Indiana where I have and still live, but I gotta say I am impressed that any sign of turning Blue is even showing up. This is unheard of here and I am finding new ways to appreciate the state. I know plenty of Republicans who will honestly switch to voting for Obama simply because of McCain and definately because of Palin. Even had a very conservative republican family member say, "I'll probably vote for McCain, but it's not like I REALLY want to."
Living here on the ground in Indiana, I can attest that it is VERY CLOSE here. I too have been wondering why we have been getting ignored.
O-Kay! Now I get to do the old college cheer:
Hoooosier Mother?
Hoooosier Father?
What's it matter if yer from Innnndianer?
JUST KIDDING, folks. No hate comments, please. I love Indiana, you big banana. Really.
(Hi Ethan!)
I'm here in Indiana helping out the cause: trying to turn "go blue!" into something more than just cheering on the Colts. Keep up the blogging – you and Dylan are still as funny as ever.
I am a white middle age woman from Indiana. And I support Barack Obama. It kills me that Indiana has been the first state to turn red in every election. Hopefully that will end this year!