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If you live near Westmoreland County you would understand. Maybe the OP wasnt correct when he said it used to be a Democrat County but it has definetly swung rediculously to the Right recently. Its also one of the largest populations in the state. Basically all the votes that Democrats won by in Alleghany County got cancelled out by all the votes Republicans won in Westmoreland County. Trump won by massive margins there.
That just isnt true. The last time a Democrat won the county was in 1996, and that was by 1,400 votes. While it has become more republican, that certainly isnt a swing. its a gradual movement.
In fact, lets put this into a deeper perspective. In 2008, Barack Obama won by a landslide across most of the country winning counties no Democrat had won since FDR, however in Westmoreland County, John McCain won and not only won, improved over George W, Bush.
Not only did McCain improve the Republican vote, but the switch did not even include the Democrats who decided not to vote, or voted 3rd party, which was larger than the increase in Republicans.
This county is one of the worst examples I have ever seen to make this kind of an argument.
Westmoreland County is not very representative of Pennsylvania, much less the nation. The median age is about 47, or over 8 years older than the national average, and about 95% of residents are white, so the demographics who tend to be more supportive of Trump and Republicans are far more dominant there than in other places. But it makes a difference if Democrats lose by 10-20% there, which implies they probably did okay statewide, or by 30% or worse, in which case the Republican has likely carried PA and the nation.
Some Westmoreland residents will have the opportunity to vote in a special US House election in the near future, due to Rep. Tim Murphy's pending resignation. The 18th congressional district includes parts of four counties and has voted Republican for the House for many election cycles. Democrats likely won't win but whether they lose by a small or large margin will be revealing.
If you live near Westmoreland County you would understand. Maybe the OP wasnt correct when he said it used to be a Democrat County but it has definetly swung rediculously to the Right recently. Its also one of the largest populations in the state. Basically all the votes that Democrats won by in Alleghany County got cancelled out by all the votes Republicans won in Westmoreland County. Trump won by massive margins there.
The premise of the OP was Trump was strong in a Democratic county such as Westmoreland. That is simply not the case. The county hasn't gone Democratic for President since 1996 when Clinton won narrowly, hasn't gone Democrat for Governor since 1994, and has gone Democratic for Senate only once since 1984 (when Santorum lost statewide by 18 in 2006)
The county moving right is nothing new, and has little to do with Trump. It did continue to trend Republican, but has been doing so in basically every election for 30 years. In fact compared to the national average it trended more Republican from 04-08 than it trended from 12-16.
As far as comparing the margins to Alleghany, that isn't true either. Trump won Westmoreland by almost 57,000, he lost Alleghany by 108,000. The margin between the two of those was actually larger last year than it was in 2012 (albeit slightly) and down from the margins of a decade or so ago between the two.
That is exactly how I feel. Liberals/progressives are hostile, hate my way of life, and are intolerant of everyone who disagrees with them. They have no place or business in any position of power at this point!
Yes, they will be. Unfortunately, voters from Philly and its suburbs will easily match them and then some. Probably why Clinton has had a persistent lead in PA.
The premise of the OP was Trump was strong in a Democratic county such as Westmoreland. That is simply not the case. The county hasn't gone Democratic for President since 1996 when Clinton won narrowly, hasn't gone Democrat for Governor since 1994, and has gone Democratic for Senate only once since 1984 (when Santorum lost statewide by 18 in 2006)
The county moving right is nothing new, and has little to do with Trump. It did continue to trend Republican, but has been doing so in basically every election for 30 years. In fact compared to the national average it trended more Republican from 04-08 than it trended from 12-16.
As far as comparing the margins to Alleghany, that isn't true either. Trump won Westmoreland by almost 57,000, he lost Alleghany by 108,000. The margin between the two of those was actually larger last year than it was in 2012 (albeit slightly) and down from the margins of a decade or so ago between the two.
Wrong. People in Westmoreland county were practically born Democrat, the same with Allegheny county when unions "encouraged" the employees to vote Democrat. Notice the word "encouraged". And there are still people in Allegheny county who think that Democrat is the same thing as Heritage.
And why is it that liberals think that making fun of a group of people's way of life would gain their support and vote? Are they so sure they have these people in the bag that they can make fun of them and get their vote?
The ultrablue city of Erie in northwest Pennsylvania is in a tight race for mayor, and for the first time in decades, may see a result that could turn the city red, too. While most of the country was either cheering Trump’s win or making an appointment with their therapist about how to cope, New Englanders in four out of the region’s six “blue” states — Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine woke up the next morning with four Republican governors.
Republicans, at some level, are competing in every state up and down the ballot, while Democrats are not competing anywhere but on the coasts and in the big cities. In short, they are a regionalized party, confined to the most densely populated parts of the nation
Westmoreland County is not getting any better for sure!
Job growth has been absolutely pitiful this year.
Thanks Trump!
You're obviously ignoring the Shale boom, one which Democrat Tom Wolf wanted to stifle with his taxes. Yep, Tom Wolf (a NY politician wanna be) who refused to sign the budget because he wanted tax increases on everyone rich and poor, young and old, less money in everyone's pocket, local gov had to borrow money increasing their expenses because he wouldn't sign the budget with out tax increases. Thankfully Republicans fought him. He finally signed the budget without those tax increases a year later (one year late).
They called Tom Wolf a one term governor. After Trumps election he changed his tune, oh yes, in an attempt to save his butt in 2018... flipping the way the wind blows.
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