The McCain campaign has to be encouraged by this latest poll in what is developing into a must-win state for him.
Showing posts with label swing states. Show all posts
Showing posts with label swing states. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Rasmussen in OH
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Swingtown, USA: Clearwater, FL
Welcome:
Clearwater is the county seat of Pinellas County, located on the Pinellas Peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The town is named after a fresh water spring flowing from near where City Hall is located today. Pinellas is named for the Spanish Punta Pinal, or "Point of Pines."
The city is the smallest of the three principal cities in the Tampa-St. Pete-Clearwater metropolitan area. The Tampa metro area with a population of 2.7 million people is the second largest in Florida and the third largest in the Southeastern US.
By the Numbers:
According to the US Census, the 2006 population estimate for Clearwater was 107,742, down from 108,787 in 2000. The 2006 estimated population for Pinellas County was 924,413, up from 921,482 in 2000. Clearwater is 84% white, and 10% African-American. Persons of Hispanic or Latino descent make up 9% of the population. In 2006, the per capita income for the city was $25,126.
Bush won Pinellas County by 246 votes in 2004: 225,686 to Kerry's 225,460. In Pinellas County's Republican Primary, McCain won 37.5% of the vote, Romney won 30%, Giuliani won 16.5%, Huckabee won 10.5%, and Paul won 4%. In the invalid Democratic Primary Clinton won 52% to Obama's 33%, with Edwards tallying 12%.
Presently in Pinellas County there are 235,960 registered Democrats, 233,708 registered Republicans, and 149,274 voters registered as Other. In 2004, there were 223,544 registered Democrats, 231,652 registered Republicans, and 135,793 registered Other.
Fun Facts!
The area was originally settled in 1835 when Fort Harrison was built overlooking Clearwater Harbor to serve as an outpost for the US Army during the Seminole Wars.
During WWII, Clearwater became a major training base for troops headed to Europe and the Pacific. Most of the hotels in the area served as barracks for the troops and nighttime blackouts were common to confuse potential enemy bombers.
Clearwater Beach is consistently ranked among the top beaches in the nation.
The Belleview Biltmore Resort and Spa, built in 1897, is the oldest occupied wooden building still used for its original purpose. And it has ghosts.
The worldwide "spiritual headquarters" of the Church of Scientology is in Clearwater. This international HQ, founded in the late 70s, is known as Flag Land Base in the official parlance of the pseudo-religion.
Evel Knievel lived in Clearwater when he died and Hulk Hogan maintains an estate in nearby Belleair a beach house in Clearwater Beach.
Your local news source: Clearwater Citizen, Clearwater Gazette
The following chart shows the five smallest vote margins among Pinellas County precincts in the 2004 General Election.
Precincts
Vote Margin (in # of votes)
St. Petersburg 252
Bush +1
Clearwater 503
Kerry +2
Clearwater 603
Bush +2
Pinellas Park 191
Kerry +3
Clearwater 636
Kerry +3
Swingtown, USA is a regular feature on the Protocol where we introduce readers to a city or town from a swing county in a swing state.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Swingtown, USA: Standish, MI
Welcome:
Standish is the county seat of Arenac County, and is located six miles from Saginaw Bay in Northeast Michigan. The town is named after founding father John D. Standish, who, in the latter half of the 19th century, owned the land that became the town. Arenac means "of or pertaining to a sandy place." (The suffix "-ac" is derived from Ancient Greek and means "pertaining to" and "arena" is Latin for "place strewn with sand.") 
By the Numbers:
The town's population in 2000 was 1,581; the county's population was 17,269. Standish is 97% white, less than 1% African-American, and 2% Hispanic or Latino. Arenac County is 95% white, 2% African-American, and 1% Hispanic or Latino. In 2000, the per capita income for the town was $13,608.
Kerry won Arenac County by five votes in 2004: 4,076 to Bush's 4,071. Kerry did well in Deep River Twp. and Omer (the smallest "city" in the state with a pop. of 337), while Bush won Standish, Au Gres, and Sims Township. In Arenac County's Republican Primary, Romney, buoyed by the home state bump, won 35% of the vote, McCain won 34%, Huckabee won 16%, and Paul won 5%. In the disputed Democratic Primary Clinton won 69% to Uncommitted's 28%.
Fun Facts!
Evidence from artifacts found in the area indicate that Arenac County has been inhabited for over 5000 years.
The area was settled by Europeans when two settlers started a sawmill in 1856. The county was founded in 1883 during the lumber boom when it was separated from Bay and Saginaw Counties.
Standish is considered a sportsmen's supply headquarters for those provisioning themselves before going hunting further north, but you don't need to leave Arenac to find outdoor fun. There's plenty of good canoeing on the Rifle and Au Gres Rivers, or you can take aim at small game in the Tittabawassee River State Forest.
Did somebody say "Slots!"? The Saganing Eagles Landing Casino, operated by the Saganing Chippewa tribe, opened in Standish in January of 2008.
The Arenac County fair, in Standish, runs from July 15-19th.
Check out the city's myspace page.
Your local news source: The Bay City Times
The following chart shows the five smallest vote margins among Arenac County precincts in the 2004 General Election.
Precincts
Vote Margin (in # of votes)
Standish City Ward 3-1
Tie
Mason Township
Bush +1
Moffatt Township
Kerry +4
Standish City Ward 1-1
Kerry +12
Au Gres Township
Bush +19
Swingtown, USA is a regular feature on the Protocol where we introduce readers to a city or town from a swing county in a swing state.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Swingtown, USA: Stroudsburg, PA
Welcome:
Stroudsburg is the county seat of Monroe County, located in the heart of the Poconos near the New Jersey border. The borough (as they are called in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania) is five miles from the Delaware Water Gap. 
By the Numbers:
The borough's population in 2005 was estimated at 6,264, up about 500 people from the 2000 total. Stroudsburg is 87% white, 6% African-American, and 8% of the white population is of Hispanic or Latino descent. In 2000, the per capita income for the borough was $18,965.
Bush won Monroe County by four votes in 2004: 27,971 votes to Kerry's 27,967 votes. While Kerry won Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg that margin was surpassed by Bush votes in the surrounding townships. In the Democratic Primary, Clinton won 58% of the county vote, with Obama winning the remaining 42%. In the Republican Primary, McCain won 73% of the vote to Paul's 16%, with Huckabee winning 11%.
Fun Facts!
There is a wealth of natural beauty in Monroe County. Explore the Delaware Water Gap from the borough of the same name. Or visit the Poconos, Pennsylvania's most popular tourist attraction, and hike waterfalls, raft the Delaware, or visit a Jewish summer camp.
The county boasts The Crossings Factory Stores, named the number one outlet center in North America for 2000-01 by the Outlet Retail Merchants Association (ORMA). The area is also home to East Stroudsburg University (Goooo Warriors!), and the Pocono Raceway, which hosts two NASCAR events annually.
Your local news source: The Pocono Record
The following chart shows the six smallest vote margins among Monroe County precincts in the 2004 General Election.
Precincts
Vote Margin (in # of votes)
Stroud 7
Kerry +3
Stroud 5
Kerry +14
Middle Smithfield Eastern
Kerry +14
Paradise
Bush +17
Chestnuthill 1
Kerry +22
Pocono 4
Bush +22
Swingtown, USA is a regular feature on the Protocol where we introduce readers to a city or town from a swing county in a swing state.
Swingtown, USA: Springfield, OH
Welcome:
Springfield, a.k.a. "The Rose City," is the county seat of Clark County in Southwestern Ohio. The city is located on the Mad River and Buck Creek and is named after the spring water that empties into Buck Creek. 
By the Numbers:
The city's population in 2006 was estimated at 62,844, down almost 4% from the 2000 total. Springfield is 78% white, and 18% African-American, while Clark County in total is 88% white, and 9% African-American. One percent of the county is of Hispanic or Latino descent.
Clark County broke narrowly for Bush in 2004 with the President winning 51% of the vote. While Kerry won Springfield City, that margin was surpassed by Bush votes in the surrounding townships. In the Democratic Primary, Clinton won 59% of the county vote, with Obama winning 39%, and Edwards winning 2%. In the Republican Primary, McCain won 57% of the vote to Huckabee's 36%, with Paul winning 3%.
Fun Facts!
Springfield is home to Wittenburg University (Goooo Tigers!), and in 2004 was named an "All-American City". In 1902 the first 4-H Club was founded in Springfield Township, and Clark County still hosts the largest county fair in Ohio.
If you're looking to do more than swing some voters when you are in the Springfield area, the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau wants you to discover life's simple pleasures, and perhaps have a championship moment.
Your local news source: Springfield News-Sun
The following chart shows the five smallest vote margins among Clark County precincts in the 2004 General Election.
Precincts
Vote Margin (in # of votes)
Moorefield Township Precinct 7
Bush +1
Springfield Township Precinct 10
Bush +2
Moorefield Township Precinct 11
Bush +3
Springfield Township Precinct 3
Bush +11
Springfield City Precinct 27
Bush +12
Swingtown, USA is a regular feature on the Protocol where we introduce readers to a city or town from a swing county in a swing state.
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