Reply #2: not on the face of it - Vermont is after all one of the most

[ahyums]

liberal/progressive states in the country, and one where a lot of political energy was generated by the Dean candidacy. There was also once a tradition of New England Republicanism which seems to be dying down somewhat because it was linked to moderates, and as the Republican party becomes ever more ideologically rigidly conservative the region becomes increasingly Democratic. - Pretty much in reverse to what happened in the South, which became Republican due to a dearth of conservative Democrats.
Having said all that though there might be something in it, I just think it's explainable in other ways.