[stewta4]

hi all, just wanted to here your opinion on where the conservative and liberal parts of this battleground state are.

[canudigit]

Liberal: All of the large cities, major pocket of liberalism in Ann Arbor

Conservative: Outerlying suburbs of the large cities and the rural parts of the state

Some of the rural areas near Detroit tend to be a bit more blue-leaning than the others because of union ties to the automotive industry. For example, here in Monroe Co. there are many, many people who are socially conservative but still vote the liberal ticket because they believe that the blue party is more sympathetic to the working man. Unions like the Teamsters and the UAW really push the liberal agenda, BTDT, my dh was a Teamster for 31 years.

My family and I are personally conservative.

[stewta4]

come on ppl respond, dont be shy

[danielj72]

Michigan could more accurately be described as conservative vs union democrat. Most of Michigan, escpecially rural parts are socially conservative. Family values, pro gun, pro life views are fairly common. Now the state does tend democrat because of the union infuence. This is especially true near any of the cities where the auto industry is present. Detroit, Lansing, Flint, Saginaw and even Grand Rapids to some extent. It is also true in the mining areas of upper michigan. The republican areas tend to be rural counties, where people are not as pro union. Like I said though, when it comes to social issues, I believe Michigan to be a very conservative state overall. Look at how the state amended the constitution to prevent gay marriage, that passed by a very large margin in 04. Gun rights and hunting are defended vigorously here. Even in democrat areas, the marriage amendment passed, and many UAW members are shot gun toting deer hunters that drive gas guzzling four wheel drives. The average UAW member is hardly what someone out east would call the typical libera. Bart Stupak is an example of a typical Michigan democrat. Pro life, pro gun, conservative on many social issues, but pro union. I think Michigans politics confuse many people from out of state, they expect a state that voted for Kerry in 04 and Obama in 08 to be more liberal on social issues, but it is not. This is a pro union state, but far from a true liberal one. If you looking for real liberals you need to look out east, say in new england.

[stewta4]

thanks for the insight, the reason im asking this question is because im more of an overall conservative, moving to michigan soon, yeah i def know what a real eastern liberal is, im coming from connecticut, one of the most liberal of them all

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by stewta4

thanks for the insight, the reason im asking this question is because im more of an overall conservative, moving to michigan soon, yeah i def know what a real eastern liberal is, im coming from connecticut, one of the most liberal of them all

I think you would fit in fine....

[canudigit]

I believe that the truest "eastern" type of liberals in Michigan can definitely be found in Ann Arbor. Lots of anti-Bush, anti-war protests on the weekends when we would drive up there a couple of years ago, although that's kind of toned down now. Still, I see more Obama/Biden bumper stickers there per capita than I have ever seen anywhere else, lol. U of M has been known as a bastion of the far left for a very long time. I'm sure that even there, though, you can find pockets of conservatism, and some of the smaller towns nearby such as Saline and Chelsea are probably markedly more conservative. Danielj72 is right, most of MI is very socially conservative but some tend to vote Dem anyway because of the strong union mentality. Places like Detroit, where there are large minority populations, are overwhelmingly Democrat and liberal. It is the large, liberal population centers that cause Michigan to go blue in every Presidential election, despite the efforts of people like me...

I think that sometimes people tend to forget that Michigan is a very large state geographically and is not just Detroit and Lansing. There is so much rural farmland filled with rural, conservative farming people in Michigan it is unreal, but a lot of people don't realize it.

[actinic]

All university towns harbor a fair portion of liberals. Faculty or staff wear the blinding cloak of tenure which robs them of any understanding on how to make it in the real world, or students who are tax users and not tax payers ... just like the unions.

[mellosenator]

When I was in Grand Rapids I heard people saying how conservative they are out there, as opposed to Detroit I guess.

[Perferator]

Emmet county is slightly more liberal leaning while Charlevoix county (where I live) is quite conservative. I'm conservative.