I saw data on central PA - that dems are polling in the 40s

[Joe for Clark]

Those of us from PA know just how unheard of that really is. Its very red in the middle.

I thought it would be impossible for any dem to get to the 40s in central PA-ever.

SO if this is true - assuming I heard correctly - we will win really, really big.

WE JUST GOTTA VOTE!!!

Joe

[Avalux]

1. I believe it.

My parents live in Central PA and switched from R to D this year. They're done with Republicans, sick of Bush and want change. They've realized how much the country has been damaged by Republican policies. From what my Dad tells me, most people he knows feel the same way. :hi:

[Joe for Clark]

3. Hi to you too.

You know when I heard this, that even around State College it was turning a little blue - First thing I thought - Nevada and Arizona are in reach. It is hard to explain just how PA, a blue state, can be so red in the middle of the state. It is though, always was. It is quite a barometer - no wonder the gop is scrambling so badly.

Joe

[Avalux]

5. At one time my parents were Democrats.

Seems sometime after Carter and around Reagan they changed; they live in Altoona - central PA is essentially rural and I think the demonizing of Democrats over gun control had a lot to do with it. Dad's a hunter, hunter safety instructor. Anyway I think you're right; it's a barometer for the bigger picture, and I'm glad to see blue collar coming back to Democrats. Encouraging! :D

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

13. My sister's new hubby's family is from Altoona.

Great folks. And they all despise Bush. :)

[benEzra]

14. The gun issue is huge in PA...

as well as a lot of other states with high rates of gun ownership, such as Florida and NC.

I think the party leadership realized after '04 what a loser the ban-more-guns program has been since it became a legislative priority in the late '80s/early '90s, and is finally dropping it, which IMHO is helping immensely in pro-gun states.

[Rockstone]

12. Shout out to Bellefonte

Warriors Mark, Milton, Zion, Lemont...

Fond memories of The Earthtones, Screaming Ducks, Crazy Daze, et al

[Joe for Clark]

15. Back to ya!

Wow - Altoona, Bellefonte - what a blast from the past to me.

Born in Beaver Falls - five years in State College.

I live LA, went to college out here and all that. The truth is, I miss PA in the fall.

But it is wierd in a way. You can live near Pittsburg (I am a raging Steeler fan still) But if you move to State College - it is like the twilight zone - the most ultra conservative area I have ever lived in.

Good to hear from all you PA guys!!!

Joe

[roamer65]

10. Same in the redder parts of MI

as well, from rumors I am hearing. Michigan's congressional districts were pretty badly gerrymandered by the Rethugs in 2001. It is really looking like we are going to put their gerrymandering to an extreme test. If any congressional districts in MI flip to Dem, get ready for a helluva blue wave. For example, MI-11 is gerrymandered and the Dem candidate Tony Trupiano has it now down to the margin of error with the Rethug McCotter.

[caledesi]

2. Read here that all the early polling places are crowded. Now,

you don't think the rethugs are the reason, do you? WE WANT OUR COUNTRY BACK.

[Mabus]

4. That's it exactly

Back in 2000 I kept telling people to vote and a number of the Dems and the Greens didn't think it would matter because "Kansas always goes red." That statement was usually followed with the canard "there's no difference between the parties anyway." By 2004 a number of those who sat out in the earlier elections "because their votes wouldn't count anyway" came out and helped put in place a majority of Democratic candidates in local offices. This year, more people around here who have felt disenfranchised and haven't voted in years because they didn't think it mattered now understand the gravity of the situation. I think more people are fired up here in the midwest too. There are some very red counties here in Kansas that have gone from solidly red to more of a bluish-purple.

Sounds like people are waking up around your area. Keep the faith. We liberals we eventually convince them that working together to find solutions is better than focusing on the areas of disagreement.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

6. Jesus Christ!

That can only mean one thing - a hell of a lot of people voting against Santorum. Half of the kids in bumfuckville wouldn't vote for Casey if their lives depended on it unless they thought the alternative was actually far, far worse.

I'm amazed.

[Avalux]

7. Excuse me

I grew up in bumfuckville.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

8. So did I.

Well, one of its Western outlying regions, anyway. My high school had "Drive a Tractor to School" day. :) I love the place, but jesus some of the locals are nuts.

[Avalux]

9. Funny.

I love the place too, but I'll never live there again. Gonna visit for Thanksgiving; every time I go back it's like a time warp. :hi:

[onethatcares]

11. I think it's deeper than a time warp,

I grew up in Reading (that metropolis), going back is painful. Seems like everyone that stayed around after highschool, never changed. Those that moved away, never want to go back due to the changes they made.

[Penndems]

16. I think y'all will be rather surprised when you go back

Ed Rendell has done great things for PA. You'd be pleased to know that people are moving back to Pennsylvania, and new Democratic voter registration is at 600,000 over the GOP.

New businesses are setting up shop, established ones are hiring like crazy, and subdivisions are either under construction or already constructed and selling like hotcakes, especially in the Lehigh and Susquehanna Valleys, and the suburbs of Pittsburgh and Philly.

Oh, and legalized slots start up next spring statewide. :D

If you haven't already, read Pennsylvania newspapers online. Better yet, stream the Pennsylvania Cable Network (www.pcntv.com) on your PCs.

Almost forget to mention: Stroll on over to the Pennsylvania board here on DU, and check out what's going on in PA politics!