It appears our neighbors to the east have turned into a hue of purple, favoring red. A Star-Tribune poll showed the GOP surpassed the Democrats in party affiliation by standing firm while voters abandon the DFL. The poll showed that 29% of all Minnesota adults identified themselves as Republicans, while the Democrats lost six points last year, dropping to 25%:
A new Minnesota Poll shows that Minnesota's political landscape is almost equally divided between Republican and Democratic voters.
In the poll, conducted last week, 29 percent identified themselves as Republicans, exactly the same percentage as a year ago, despite President Bush's record-low approval ratings and the conventional wisdom that Republicans are likely to suffer net losses in this fall's election.
Those who identified themselves as Democrats stood at 25 percent, close enough to be considered even, given the margin of sampling error, but down from 31 percent a year ago.
Minnesota is known historically for its liberal leanings, so this is an interesting development for the state. It may or may not reflect a changing political culture. The real test will come in November, where it appears Mark Kennedy will face Amy Klobuchar, while the popular Tim Pawlenty runs for re-election as governor. If the Republicans capture both races and make gains in the state legislature, this poll may be reflecting a moment in history where the state will be painted red.
Recent Comments