Per capita income and the election

[TonyR]

So, apparently Obama is a socialist and wants to take away rich people's money and give it to the poor. A modern day Robin Hood, if you will. So it would make sense, then, that the wealthy would overwhelmingly support Romney, right? Well, if the 2008 election is any indication that's simply not the case if you use per capita income as an indicator. Check this out. Below are the top 10 states ranked by per capita income, and then the margin of victory for Obama in the 2008 election:

1 Connecticut +22
2 New Jersey +15
3 Massachusetts +22
4 New York +26
5 Maryland +25
6 Wyoming -33
7 California +24
8 New Hampshire +10
9 Virginia +6
10 Colorado +9

So Obama won the top 5 per capita income states by an average of ~22%. He won 9 of the top 10, 7 of those by double digits. And I'm fairly confident that he'll win at least 7 of those 9 again this year.

So what's the reason for this? Why are more educated, higher earning voters tending to vote for the guy who wants to raise their taxes? Which means that lower educated, lower earning voters are leaning Romney (particularly in the south)? I'd particularly like to hear why the Obama haters think this is. Confounding, isn't it?!?

[barryr]

So, apparently Obama is a socialist and wants to take away rich people's money and give it to the poor. A modern day Robin Hood, if you will. So it would make sense, then, that the wealthy would overwhelmingly support Romney, right? Well, if the 2008 election is any indication that's simply not the case if you use per capita income as an indicator. Check this out. Below are the top 10 states ranked by per capita income, and then the margin of victory for Obama in the 2008 election:

1 Connecticut +22
2 New Jersey +15
3 Massachusetts +22
4 New York +26
5 Maryland +25
6 Wyoming -33
7 California +24
8 New Hampshire +10
9 Virginia +6
10 Colorado +9

So Obama won the top 5 per capita income states by an average of ~22%. He won 9 of the top 10, 7 of those by double digits. And I'm fairly confident that he'll win at least 7 of those 9 again this year.

So what's the reason for this? Why are more educated, higher earning voters tending to vote for the guy who wants to raise their taxes? Which means that lower educated, lower earning voters are leaning Romney (particularly in the south)? I'd particularly like to hear why the Obama haters think this is. Confounding, isn't it?!?

Wow, most of those states vote democrat every year and haven't voted republican in decades. Obama winning them is really going out on a limb. Also, obviously news to liberals and yellowdog democrats. The DNC has been getting more money from the wealthy and corporations than the RNC since the Clinton days, but we know, "it's the republicans that just cater to the rich." Great narrative, if only the democrats didn't do their share and in fact, more.

[TonyR]

Wow, most of those states vote democrat every year and haven't voted republican in decades. Obama winning them is really going out on a limb.

But why is that? He dominated 9 out of the top 10! Dominated. Do you ever ask yourself why that is? Do you ever think about it? And how it fits with the narrative you've had beat into you about who/what Obama is and who/what "liberals/progressives" are?

[BowlenBall]

Basically, what you're pointing out is that voters with more education are favoring Obama.

That is your point, right?

[Irish Stout]

So, apparently Obama is a socialist and wants to take away rich people's money and give it to the poor. A modern day Robin Hood, if you will. So it would make sense, then, that the wealthy would overwhelmingly support Romney, right? Well, if the 2008 election is any indication that's simply not the case if you use per capita income as an indicator. Check this out. Below are the top 10 states ranked by per capita income, and then the margin of victory for Obama in the 2008 election:

1 Connecticut +22
2 New Jersey +15
3 Massachusetts +22
4 New York +26
5 Maryland +25
6 Wyoming -33
7 California +24
8 New Hampshire +10
9 Virginia +6
10 Colorado +9

So Obama won the top 5 per capita income states by an average of ~22%. He won 9 of the top 10, 7 of those by double digits. And I'm fairly confident that he'll win at least 7 of those 9 again this year.

So what's the reason for this? Why are more educated, higher earning voters tending to vote for the guy who wants to raise their taxes? Which means that lower educated, lower earning voters are leaning Romney (particularly in the south)? I'd particularly like to hear why the Obama haters think this is. Confounding, isn't it?!?

Typically for democrats you get a majority of the most educated people in the country. Higher education leads to better paying jobs. For whatever reason higher education is filled with more liberal minded people, so the more education the more liberal, typically. The poor and uneducated are probably a 50-50 split between Republicans and Democrats (often incorrectly politically aligning themselves).

The moderately educated are probably a bit more conservative, and the wealthy business owners who are hiring the educated liberals are more likely to be Republicans. The uber wealthy are almost always conservative, with exceptions for those building their wealth from Hollywood and a few guys like Warren Buffet.

Why this is? I don't know. The highly educated probably are more idealistic about creating a better society. The business owners and uber wealthy are more concerned with the bottom dollar. The moderately educated fall between the scope of worrying about their middle class dollars and living in a community and society that is accepting and nurturing to them and their families. Those who worry about money first typically are conservative those who worry about societal problems first are typically more liberal.

Then again, my stereotyping could be utter bs. I think the tea party and the Christian right have pushed these older stereotypes to a different ground for sure.

[BowlenBall]

Typically for democrats you get a majority of the most educated people in the country. Higher education leads to better paying jobs. For whatever reason higher education is filled with more liberal minded people, so the more education the more liberal, typically. The poor and uneducated are probably a 50-50 split between Republicans and Democrats (often incorrectly politically aligning themselves).

The moderately educated are probably a bit more conservative, and the wealthy business owners who are hiring the educated liberals are more likely to be Republicans. The uber wealthy are almost always conservative, with exceptions for those building their wealth from Hollywood and a few guys like Warren Buffet.

Why this is? I don't know. The highly educated probably are more idealistic about creating a better society. The business owners and uber wealthy are more concerned with the bottom dollar. The moderately educated fall between the scope of worrying about their middle class dollars and living in a community and society that is accepting and nurturing to them and their families. Those who worry about money first typically are conservative those who worry about societal problems first are typically more liberal.

Then again, my stereotyping could be utter bs. I think the tea party and the Christian right have pushed these older stereotypes to a different ground for sure.

So... the smarter you are, the more likely you are to vote for Obama.

Interesting....

[Pony Boy]

So... the smarter you are, the more likely you are to vote for Obama.

Interesting....

Yes .... highly educated and well-informed voters.

[BowlenBall]

Yes .... highly educated and well-informed voters.

Ah yes... Samuel L. Jackson received a bachelor's degree from Morehouse University in 1972. An excellent example. Thank you.

[TonyR]

Yes .... highly educated and well-informed voters.

^ Perfect example of how reality doesn't match what people think right here. For every black person who votes for Obama just because he's black there's probably at least two white people who vote against him because he's black. Just look at the disparity in support for the respective candidates in the south.

[El Minion]

Low information/education voters and the Bubba vote are concentrated in the South, wonder why? (http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2012/Pres/Maps/Oct18.html#item-6):

Region Obama Romney Margin
East 52% 48% Obama +4%
Midwest 52% 48% Obama +4%
South 39% 61% Romney +22%
West 53% 47% Obama +6%

[Blart]

Why are the most conservative states always the poorest?

You'd think the invisible hand would be dropping wads of free-market cash into rational self interest coffers. I blame Obama

[TonyR]

^ Yup, it was your posting this (the disparity between the south and everywhere else) in another thread that got me thinking about this. I then looked up the per capita income stats, and then the election stats from 2008, and I was blown away at the extent to which Obama dominated in the educated/intellectual hubs of the country. Frankly I'm a little surprised more people aren't as fascinated by this as I am. I always knew this was at least somewhat the case, just didn't realize it was to this extent.

[TonyR]

Typically...

Thanks for the response, I tend to agree with most of what you said. But this is pretty much what I expected from a rational, reasonable poster like you. I'm really hoping to hear more from the foaming-at-the-mouth right-wingers but this type of information is probably a bit unsettling to them...

[barryr]

Most of the black population is located in the south, so the liberals are labeling them stupid and ignorant. But a thread like this is typical anyway. About once a month some liberal dying to prove how vastly superior intellectually they are, try to use something they believe proves it. But one can see why since one can not use any posts from liberals around here to offer a proof LOL

[TonyR]

Most of the black population is located in the south, so the liberals are labeling them stupid and ignorant.

Which further proves the point. If you had half a brain you'd understand this. That large African American population in the south is supporting Obama, which makes the overall level of support against him even more mind boggling. Math clearly isn't your strong suit.

[Pony Boy]

Ah yes... Samuel L. Jackson received a bachelor's degree from Morehouse University in 1972. An excellent example. Thank you.

Yes and an excellent example of an intelligent reason to vote for Obama ......Thank You

[Pony Boy]

^ Perfect example of how reality doesn't match what people think right here. For every black person who votes for Obama just because he's black there's probably at least two white people who vote against him because he's black. Just look at the disparity in support for the respective candidates in the south.

What is your source for that quote ........ or did you just make that up?

[TonyR]

What is your source for that quote ........ or did you just make that up?

LOL It's pretty intuitive, no? There are more whites than blacks in the south. Blacks favor Obama. The south overall heavily favors Romney. I'm probably understating the ratio at 2-1, which is why I said "at least".

[pricejj]

LOL It's pretty intuitive, no? There are more whites than blacks in the south. Blacks favor Obama. The south overall heavily favors Romney. I'm probably understating the ratio at 2-1, which is why I said "at least".

I'm not voting for Obama, because he sucks...not due to the color of his skin.


Racist much?

[TonyR]

I'm not voting for Obama, because he sucks...not due to the color of his skin.


Racist much?

What did I say that was "racist"? You should have a clue what you're talking about before making such accusations.

[El Minion]

Who are the real moochers? How many Red states in the top 10 on Net Federal Tax Dollars received? How about the top 20? Who are the "producers" and who are the "takers", nay "free loaders"? :welcome: Ingrates and hypocrites :welcome:

http://visualeconomics.creditloan.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/tax.jpg

[Arkie]

^That data is from 2005. Arkansas has moved up 22 states since then.

[Arkie]

Most of the rich vote Republican. Most of the poor vote Democratic. Most of the middle class vote Republican in the red states and Democrat in the blue states.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Low information/education voters and the Bubba vote are concentrated in the South, wonder why? (http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2012/Pres/Maps/Oct18.html#item-6):

Region Obama Romney Margin
East 52% 48% Obama +4%
Midwest 52% 48% Obama +4%
South 39% 61% Romney +22%
West 53% 47% Obama +6%

The low information/education demographic is certainly well represented here on the OM by the likes of Dinglebarry, pricejj, PhonyBoy, EpicNyuk, et al.

[TonyR]

Most of the rich vote Republican. Most of the poor vote Democratic.

That seems to be the conventional wisdom, but I don't know that we have much data to prove this out. I think "most of the poor" don't vote at all. And the fact that 9 out of 10 of the highest per capita income states in the country appear to overwhelmingly vote Democrat suggest that plenty of "wealthy" people vote Democrat.

[Arkie]

That seems to be the conventional wisdom, but I don't know that we have much data to prove this out. I think "most of the poor" don't vote at all. And the fact that 9 out of 10 of the highest per capita income states in the country appear to overwhelmingly vote Democrat suggest that plenty of "wealthy" people vote Democrat.

You are correct. Most of them don't vote. If they did, Obama would win in a landslide.