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Political Realities of Red, Blue and Purple America

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Charlie Cook: “These results raise some interesting questions. First, why do Republicans perform better than Democrats in the U.S. House, state Senate, and state House seats in the purple states, even though Democrats do better at the U.S. Senate and gubernatorial level in those seven?”

“Second, why do Republicans win a higher share of state legislative seats in blue states (35 percent of state Senate seats, and 38 percent in state Houses), than Democrats do in red states (23 and 27 percent, respectively)? Republicans also hold majorities in two blue-state legislative chambers (both in New Hampshire). In contrast, Democrats hold no such majorities in red states.”

“My hunch is that these results are the product of decades of Republicans investing far more money in local, county, and state party-building than Democrats, with the Obama years a key period when his party could and should have done much more. Indeed, the last time Democrats made down-ballot party-building a priority was during the years 2005-2009, when Howard Dean chaired the Democratic National Committee.”

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About Political Wire

goddard-bw-snapshotTaegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.

Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.

Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.

Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.

Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.

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