A quick question--Anybody got any data on this?

[Jackpine Radical]

The networks used to switch the party significance of red/blue colors on the map in every election. I remember that Carter's states were colored red as he won them in 1976. (I remember that because I remember a joke I made at the time.)

It seems that the colors got permanently assigned somewhere along the line. Was it as recent as the 2000 election?

In any case, I have often wondered about the story behind that permanent assignment. Specifically, I wonder if some market researcher in the pay of the Republicans did studies comparing people's emotional reactions to the two colors and discovered that there is some inherent advantage in psychophysiological responses to red or something.

Anybody got a clue?

[sharesunited]

1. I always thought they settled on Democratic Blue because red was pejorative.

It played too blatantly into the right-wing smear that left-of-center were communists.

[babylonsister]

2. David Brinkley? I found this...

http://www.scribd.com/doc/45708/What-Makes-a-Color-a-Legend

Can't copy/paste, but scroll down for the question if it doesn't pop up immediately.

Also, what's with the elephant vs. donkey? :shrug:

[Muttocracy]

4. Elephant/Donkey are much older - Thomas Nast political cartoons maybe? nt

[SmileyRose]

3. when they switched colors it really messed me up.

Unfortunately I don't remember what year it was.

This is the 1976 electoral map from Time Magazine (in 1976) -- add the http part to the front to see.

bp1.blogger.com/_iKcZ3qcCmyo/SAfqMJcwgHI/AAAAAAAAG3w/fXLjq3W8r94/s1600-h/400px-ElectoralCollege1976-Large.png