Palin is from the Midwest. Obama wants to win the Midwest

[Life Long Dem]

He is planning on winning this race in the Midwest.

She also went to the University of Idaho where she has a B.S. in Journalism.

So, I think this is why he chose Palin.

But what effect on the Midwest will she have on Obama?

[Alexander]

1. Uh, no she isn't. Palin was born in Sandpoint, Idaho.

I've been to Sandpoint. It's not even close to the Midwest.

[Riverman]

12. Sandpoint is the Right-Wing Evangelical Whacko Capitol

of the Northwest. It is not the mid-west - look on a map, way up there near Canada- west of the Rockies. It is the place where the pop is over 96% white and the right-wing, white evangelicals moved to from where I live to get away from the immoral influences of the conservatives who dominate the rural Norcal county where I live. It is the truth - as I know from direct personal experience! Sandpoint is also where the neo-nazis have, or had, their camps - ie Rev Butler, who wrote the neo-nazis handbook for these nuts. From Wikepedia "In the 1980s and 1990s nearby Coeur d'Alene and Hayden Lake attracted nationwide publicity when white supremacist Neo-Nazi groups (most notably the Aryan Nations) set up headquarters in the area." It is noted that locals reacted against the Neo-Nazis and formed a Human Rights organization to fight such groups. A lawsuit against them pretty much bankrupted them out of business.

Sandpoint and Alaska, are not the places of traditional mid-west middle-American values, as Obama expressed last night as the grandson of white Kansas folks who worked hard to get thru the depression and sacrificed to help him get an excellent education that led him to where he is today! Those are mid-west, All American values!

[grantcart]

38. the locals hated Butler and when they had a chance to sit on a jury they

took every bit of land away from him.

He had no support there and was deeply hated.

Sandpoint is home to a large number of California migrants who have moved there for its lake and skiing.

Go north of Sandpoint and you can find small towns filled with Mennonites.

[featherman]

2. Huh?

[Left Is Write]

3. Since when are Idaho and Alaska "the midwest"?

[Eric J in MN]

4. Mitt Romney would have been a factor in Michigan because his father was governor there.

I don't think Palin having gone to the "University of Idaho" will help the McCain/Palin ticket in the midwest.

George W. Bush having gone to Harvard and Yale didn't help him win New England.

Update: as others have posted, Idaho isn't even in the midwest.

It's in the northwest.

[Cosmocat]

8. As noted, Alaska is a whole nother world ...

I don't see how, outside of the hairbrained MSM, Alaska has any weight with people anywhere in the mainland.

Romney, by activating and motivating Mormons to go vote, would have been a MUCH stronger factor in midwest.

[WCGreen]

34. He was governor 40 years ago....

People from that time make up a small part of the population.

And you know what, the kid moved, left Michigan in the lurch so why does anyone think this blow dried Ken Doll would appeal to Blue Collar workers.

Grosse Pointe, perhaps...

[Thrill]

5. When did Idaho become the Midwest?

Are you confusing Idaho with Iowa?

[Left Is Write]

26. You'd be surprised how often that happens.

I'm a Minnesotan living in Idaho.

I know the Midwest, and Idaho, you are no Midwest. :D

[undeterred]

6. He has a strange view of what constitutes the midwest.

And even if she were from the midwest, if nobody knows who she is, so what.

[sandnsea]

7. She's the Dying West

She represents the policies that killed fish and wildlife, caused the destruction of forests, dumbed down our kids, overdeveloped us into a mortgage crisis, and stands in the way of an energy revolution. She's what we're all voting against.

[Jersey Devil]

9. LOL, he could have won Idaho with Howdy Doody as veep (nt)

[Left Is Write]

28. Unfortunately, that is true.

That won't stop the Idaho Dems from trying, though!

[tinrobot]

10. Obama is also from the midwest

[kestrel91316]

11. Yoou need remedial geography. Seriously.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

13. Idaho isn't exactly a swing state.

[Life Long Dem]

20. Colorado and Nevada are.

Nevada borders Idaho. And all three are Mountain states. Palin was born in Idaho.

[PM7nj]

22. And California borders Arizona...

does that mean California is going to vote for McCain because McCain lives in Arizona?

[TheDonkey]

32. Not Midwest, would be Mountain West

and Idaho connections will not swing Colorado or NV much if any

[Life Long Dem]

14. Wow!! All the primary Hillary supporters defending Obama!!

Keep it up!! :bounce:

I've heard Idaho referred to as the Midwest by Idaho residents while visiting. Maybe someone from the area can explain why people from Idaho call it the Midwest? I've always thought the Northwest, but you get more of a Midwest feeling when there.

Also I want to add on edit: Idaho is on Mountain time.

[Left Is Write]

30. People who live in Idaho do not refer to Idaho as the midwest.

I have lived here for eight years and have never heard such a ridiculous thing.

And as a 34-year resident of the midwest, born and raised, I can also tell you it doesn't feel much like the midwest here to ME.

[Orangepeel]

15. Is she the only republican from the midwest?

(if you want to count Idaho as the Midwest, which I wouldn't).

[JVS]

16. Geography: learn it

[Zynx]

17. Idaho is not the Midwest by any definition.

[Life Long Dem]

18. true true true true true

:shrug: still.

Then, Idaho has a lot of Indians and Indian reservations, and Obama is strong in this area.

[PM7nj]

21. Umm... Obama didn't have a chance in Idaho anyway.

[Left Is Write]

31. Well, some of us in Idaho are certainly trying.

It would help not to feel demoralized on this board.

Yes, yes, realistically I know that Idaho is doomed to be a red state, but when you're in the thick of it, trying to make a change, you need to have hope, not defeatism.

[Life Long Dem]

19. I think Obama will be all set in this area.

But her being from the area is not a positive. Not a big positive if much at all, but it will be played in favor of the Mountain States.

[MichiganVote]

23. What the hell is a know nothing like this going to do for Michigan? No thanks.

[DefenseLawyer]

24. Is the Midwest anywhere west of Newark?

and east of San Bernardino?

[IndianaJones]

25. whoa, the midwest is huge. nt.

[WinkyDink]

27. Pronoun usage is confusing here.

[HughMoran]

29. Is are students lerning?

:eyes:

[RoadRage]

33. Wow.. she only has a bachelors degree.. Holy CRAP!

I mean.. I have a BS.. but I'm not qualified to be VP of the USA. Obama was president of the fucking HARVARD LAW REVIEW. Hell, even Bushy went to Harvard.

Seriously, don't you have to have a Masters Degree to pretty much take a crap in Washington.. if not a law degree? I guess i'd say her "Hockey Mom" credentials really don't seem to stack up, but then again neither does the rest of her resume.

[Eric J in MN]

40. John McCain doesn't have a graduate degree, either. NT

NT

[BlueIdaho]

35. In fairness to Idaho

Idaho gave Barack the largest winning percentage of any primary or caucus. Unfortunately we are awash in neo-cons, survivalists, fascists and dumb shit republicans. I am ashamed to admit that Ms Palin is a graduate of the college where I teach so now the numb skulls that run this place want to make her Alumna of the year. God help us all.

My apologies to the nation.

[Left Is Write]

37. Will her nomination turn the Moscow area red?

I'd hate to see our little bastions of blue turning color.

[BlueIdaho]

39. Oh hell no. nt.

[Left Is Write]

42. Good!

[IDemo]

36. Idaho = Iowa. So common, they wrote a book about it->

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Is-Idaho-in-Iowa/Tim-Woodward/e/9780960356683

Boise mayor mentions the Idaho/Iowa syndrome at the Boise Democratic caucus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5fwJEWLUv8

[helderheid]

41. Idaho is not the midwest.