This is too complicated for me, can we simplify it somewhat for my poor little brain to grasp?
Really has it come to this?
Dear god.
Sigh.
Transcript
A now for a different way to look at the campaign in 2014 this election cycle
In one corner its Starbucks Nation, these are Democrats that live in the big cities, adjacent suburbs, lots of Starbucks
In the other corners its Chick Fil A country, basically Republican that live in the areas between suburban America and rural America we call them the X=erbs. [apprently this should be exurbs though I cant see it myself [dyslexia]
Have pity
Goddamn you poll
Another way of saying small town America.
In 2012 the Presidential battleground map favored Democrats and here is why. 36% of people who lived in those battle ground states lived in the cites or those close in suburbs close to the cities....
no, no, no, I can,t cant, wont, caNT
Please......arrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhh
Deleterious is so brave and has completed a transcript for you all
(Figured I'd save you from the urge to beat your head against your desk, just in case you started feeling masochistic.)
And now, to a different way to look at Campaign 2014 this election cycle.
In one corner it's Starbucks Nation. These are Democrats that live in the big cities, adjacent suburbs, lots of Starbucks.
In the other corner, it's Chick Fil A Country. Basically Republicans that live in the areas between suburban America and rural America. We call 'em the exurbs. It's also another way of saying small-town America.
In 2012, the presidential battleground map favored Democrats, and here's why - 36 percent of people that live in those battleground states were in the cities, or those close-in suburbs close to the cities. 20 percent lived in those Republican strongholds, the exurbs, more rural America.
This year, the numbers are completely reversed. Only a fifth of the population in the Senate battleground map live in urban areas, while it's 36 percent, uh, that live in those communities that are favorable to Republicans, in the exurbs.
So what does all this mean? When Democrats had the advantage 2 years ago, President Obama essentially swept the board. He won all but 1 of the 9 toss-up states. He had a lot of Starbucks states, essentially.
This year, it's the Republican edge. The GOP is almost certain to pick up states in Chick Fil A Country - Montana, South Dakota and West Virginia. Don't forget, we have Arkansas and Louisiana here. Leaves Republicans with a lot of opportunities to win Senate seats in areas that are favorable to them.
Then, you have the swing states. The ones that are in the battleground map both in 2012 and 2014. It's places like Colorado and Iowa. These were the big swing states in both years, and they're going to make the difference. And look at how close things are here.
For instance, in Colorado, incumbent Democratic Senator Mark Udall's support is mostly going to come from Denver and the immediate suburbs, plus Boulder County, which account for 37 percent of the state's population. Starbucks territory.
But it's the counties around Denver that are growing rapidly and becoming more Democratic. Much of the other parts of Colorado are more rural. They are the suburbs of Denver outside of those immediate areas, and Colorado Springs, and they're much more conservative.
Congressman Cory Gardner is hoping it's these areas in Chick Fil A country that end up determining that race.
Let's move to Iowa. It's the same thing. You do have Des Moines, and those close-in suburbs around it, as well as the college towns of Ames and Iowa City. That's territory that's good for Democrats. But the rest of the state is gonna be a lot tougher for the nominee, for the Democrats there, Bruce Braley. It's a lot more rural middle America, and that tends to favor Republicans.
Think Dallas County, it's a true exurb next to Des Moines. It went for Romney by 12 points. So the challenge for Democrats will be getting out the vote in their urban center, firing up their turnout in Des Moines while holding back a Republican surge in a Dallas County, that hopeful Jodi Ernst believes will take her to victory.
So there you have it. It's Starbucks Country versus Chick Fil A Country. Who's gonna turn out in 2014, it could be advantage to the chicken. We'll see. Elections will be determined between the big cities and rural America. And that's the way to look, one way to look at this 2014.
h/t TO JOFFAN FOR ANOTHER IN THE COMMENTS