Day: August 3, 2009

Six months of the Obama Presidency have passed, and the Democrats, despite blistering criticism from the far right and from the Republican leadership of Congress and Republican governors, continues to dominate across the country, based on party affiliation.

Thirty states are blue (Democrats) and only four states are red (Republican), with eight states leaning Democratic,  eight being competitive, and only one state leaning Republican.  Two states that were competitive have gone to leaning Democratic.

The only states that are red are Utah, Wyoming, Idaho and Alaska, with Alabama the only other state leaning strongly Republican.  Mississippi is the other state which has barely gone more Republican by one percentage point.  Everywhere else, there has been no change or negative change for the GOP.

The eight states leaning Democratic are crucial states, including Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Nevada, and Colorado.

The competitive states are South Carolina, Mississippi, Texas, North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Arizona, and Montana.

States that have changed classification since the end of 2008 are as follows:  Colorado and Nevada from solid Democratic to leaning Democratic; Virginia and Indiana from Competitive to solid Democratic;   Florida, Georgia and South Dakota from Competitive to lean Democratic;  Alabama from Competitive to lean Republican;  and Nebraska from lean Republican to Competitive.

The size of the Democratic advantage has declined a bit, but this is due to the growth of independent support, not to any growth of GOP support in party affiliation.

It should be pointed out that these statistics do not mean the Republicans cannot gain support and win if they secure independent backing, but it is clear that the Republican party is in deep trouble and will have a major battle gaining great influence and power nationally, as things stand now,  based on Gallup Poll findings.

A lot of attention has been paid to the controversy over the arrest of Professor Henry Louis Gates of Harvard by Sergeant James Crowley, and the intervention by President Obama, which led to the so called Beer Summit at the White House.

Despite all the criticism of Obama,  I think we can say that the Beer Summit had a positive impact, and it shows with the statements now made by Gates that he hoped he and Crowley could go to lunch, or go to a Red Sox or Celtics game,  or have both families get together for dinner.  Gates even joked that he would help to get Crowley’s children into Harvard if Crowley promised not to arrest him again.  LOL

Despite all of the horrible recriminations visited on Obama by disgraceful conservative talk show hosts and the looney extremists in emails and online comments on news sites,   I think the whole situation, while regrettable that it ever happened in the first place,  can be seen as a "teaching moment"  as Obama termed it, and hopefully the relationship between the races can be improved over time,  as it is essential to promote civil discourse and good will if this nation is to move forward as it becomes more multi racial and multi ethnic, as the Census Bureau predicts will happen in the next 30 years. 

We have no choice but to accept differences in a way that can unite us, rather than divide us.