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A Big Ten Sweep

By TChris, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 11:09:36 PM EST
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In posts here and here, TalkLeft explored about the possibility of a Big Ten sweep for Obama. With the final word this afternoon that Obama won Indiana, the sweep was complete. The Big Ten is a blue conference.

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    A Big Ten Sweep | 20 comments (20 topical)

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    BTD didn't believe that Indiana was possible (none / 0) (#1)
    by andgarden on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 11:24:36 PM EST
    but I put my faith in the last polls. . .

    While you worried about PA and (none / 0) (#2)
    by oculus on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 11:32:52 PM EST
    he didn't. Wonder when NC and Missouri will be called.

    Parent
    Indeed (none / 0) (#3)
    by andgarden on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 11:35:18 PM EST
    I knew too much about PA not to worry.

    IMO, NC and MO are finished, and split. The former to Obama and the latter to McCain.

    Parent

    I hope MO goes McCain (2.00 / 0) (#4)
    by nycstray on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 01:15:00 AM EST
    Claire needs a breather  ;)

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    Do you think Obama deliberately head-faked (none / 0) (#6)
    by JoeA on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 05:38:31 AM EST
    the McCain campaign into doubling down on PA?

    I'm beginning to think that the unauthorised "leak" of an internal Obama poll by a staffer showing them only up 2 was deliberately done not just to motivate staff and volunteers as I originall suspected, but also to encourage the McCain campaign to put everything on the state.  Given the almost complete lack of leaks from the Obama campaign other than that it does seem suspicious.

    Very machiavellian . . .  I love it.

    Parent

    Unfortunately, . . . (none / 0) (#7)
    by Doc Rock on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 06:22:01 AM EST
    . . . my Indiana's been down so long, it's starting to look like uo.

    No surprises here, given (none / 0) (#8)
    by mg7505 on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 07:30:50 AM EST
    that the Big Ten has Minnesota, the state with the longest current blue streak. Glad to see the others followed suit.

    Never a doubt! (none / 0) (#9)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 08:25:35 AM EST
    Teh Heartland is as blue as the afternoon sky--and filled with REAL Americans.

    I caution those in blue (none / 0) (#10)
    by Slado on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 09:24:39 AM EST
    to consider Indiana as a "Blue" state.

    It was basically 50/50 on election day.  Obama won because he was the better candidate.  The same people who voted Obama in also voted in a very popular Republican govenor by a very large margin.  Incunbent senate/house and local offices basically held on if they where popular.  If they weren't they where tossed out.  

    Indiana is a centrist if not center right state, accept the obvious big city voters and college town voters in bloomington.   Clinton carried this state when he was the better candidate, Bush carried this state by 20% when he was the better candidate.  Reagan, Bush I the first time etc... etc...   Indianans vote for the winner.

    If Obama governs from the left he won't win in 2012.  If he does a good job and governs like Clinton with progressive/center (choose your own buzzword) policies and isn't overun by a liberal congress he will win in 2012 because Indianans (myself included) reward good leadership.

    Other then Illinois (which is dominated by chicago politics) the rest of the midwest is the same way.   Do a good job and you're rewarded.  Do a lousy one and you are out.

    Congrats to Obama.  He was the better candidate.  If he does a good job he'll get my vote.

    Speak for yourself (5.00 / 2) (#18)
    by TChris on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 11:40:06 AM EST
    Some of the Big Ten recognized in 2004 that Bush was doing a lousy job and needed to be replaced.  Indiana (like Ohio and Iowa) rewarded Bush by voting him back into office.  And while Kerry wasn't an ideal candidate, he would clearly have been a better leader than Bush.  It isn't all about job performance or being the "better candidate" in Indiana.  Nonetheless, Indiana voters deserve our gratitude for joining the other Big Ten states in finally recognizing that the nation suffers when we put Republicans in charge.

    Parent
    Huh? (none / 0) (#20)
    by Slado on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 01:30:09 PM EST
    If we're going to dive into this then in 2004 the jury was actually still out on Bush.  9/11 performance was good.  Iraq wasn't as bad as it would become, economy was good blah, blah, blah.

    Now in 2008 it is obvious to even myself as a Bush supporter that he failed to deliver on his promises.  I made the decision not to reward Democrats for Bush's failures but the 20% of the publicn in IN that put Bush over the top in 2004 did not agree with me.

    You skipped over my point that a popular Republican govenor who's provided great leadership easily won election despite Obama's coattails.

    My point is Democrats won a majority of the midwest because they put forth the best candidate.  Republicans didn't have a good alternative.  McCain was the best we could do and frankly he wasn't great.  

    The difference between 2008 and 2004 IMHO is Obama didn't do what Bush did.  IE run a very partisan and anit the other guy campaign.   Obama was rewarded for being inclusive and focusing on his positives vs. the other guys negatives.   Bush, lets be frank, didn't even attempt to be the 2000 Bush much less the 2008 Obama.

    If Obama does a good job he'll be rewarded.  There is no Midwest trend towards liberalism.  Just a demand IMHO for good government.  The dems curretly offer the best chance of that, as much as it pains me to say it.

    Republicans had 8years to prove they could provide it and they failed.  

    Parent

    Just another reason (none / 0) (#11)
    by Makarov on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 10:13:47 AM EST
    that the Big 10 > SEC. Football is the primary one. See you in January BTD.

    Iowa went to (none / 0) (#21)
    by JThomas on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 03:39:00 PM EST
    Bush in 04 by less than 10,000 votes...still cannot figure that one out..Iowa is blue at heart.

    As for Obama sweeping the Big Ten...well, he is a true Big Ten candidate..coming from Illinois, and teaching at the U.of Chicago, one of the original members of the Big Ten,and home to the first Heisman trophy winner ever...Jay Berwanger from Dubuque Iowa.

    Go Big Ten!!!

    Parent

    Not necessary to point this out. (none / 0) (#12)
    by oculus on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 10:18:39 AM EST


    I respectfully dissent (none / 0) (#13)
    by Steve M on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 10:28:52 AM EST


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    Toledo: bad enough. But (none / 0) (#14)
    by oculus on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 10:42:32 AM EST
    really cruel to dredge up ancient history of Appalachian State (how are they doing this year, I wonder?).  

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    Appalachian State (none / 0) (#15)
    by Steve M on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 11:11:15 AM EST
    is 7-2 and ranked #2 in Division I-AA, with their only losses coming to LSU and #1-ranked James Madison.  They are, after all, a perennial powerhouse, even if Appalachia took it on the chin as a region during this election campaign.

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    There very existence was unknown (none / 0) (#16)
    by oculus on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 11:17:49 AM EST
    to me until last year's season opener.

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    They are located (none / 0) (#17)
    by Steve M on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 11:25:39 AM EST
    in the northwestern part of North Carolina, about an hour from Mt. Airy, the town that inspired Mayberry.  I wonder how they're adjusting to being blue-staters all of a sudden.

    Parent
    Andy and Opie of Mayberry Were For Obama (none / 0) (#19)
    by daring grace on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 01:19:29 PM EST
    Maybe their counterparts in Mt Airy were as well...

    Parent
    A Big Ten Sweep | 20 comments (20 topical)

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