SF Chronicle on the "red West Shifting to Blue" Media Coverage, The Big Strategy

Though it seems to focus a bit too much on the hot button differences between Western Democrats and coastal Dems, such as abortion and gun rights, the San Francisco Chronicle did an all-right piece on the Western Democrat theme.

Here's a particularly good passage:

Some of the Democratic gains in the West can be attributed to the same national trends that endanger the GOP's hold on Congress this year. Bush, who won all eight states in 2000 and 2004 -- with the exception of a 500-vote loss to Al Gore in New Mexico -- is losing popularity. Anger over the war in Iraq and frustration over one-party rule are tempering Republican prospects.

But those who study the West say something more profound and perhaps more lasting is taking place.

As Republicans took control of the South in the decades following the civil rights battle, the party has increasingly embraced socially conservative issues that have far less appeal in the West, analysts say. The GOP's emphasis on banning abortions and same-sex marriage, and promoting prayer in schools do not play so well in the more libertarian West.

Colorado, Nevada and Montana have adopted medicinal-marijuana laws, and Nevada has a measure on the November ballot that would legalize possession of up to an ounce.

Read the entire thing though.

Like I said, half of it dwells on the fact that many Western Democrats don't tow the line all that well on social issues, but it eventually gets to the point of style (which is seams to portray as just that, style). There have been better articles written about the Western Democrat trend, but this one isn't the worst.

Emmett O'Connell | October 2, 2006 | Comment on This Post (1 so far) Permalink: SF Chronicle on the "red West Shifting to Blue" Media Coverage, The Big Strategy

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