SMU Election Project WY

What Happened?

2008-11-06T17:49:00.000-08:00

Wyoming has been solid McCain since the beginning of the election months ago. This remained the same on Election Day. McCain overwhelmingly carried all of Wyoming's counties with the exception of Albany and Teton. So, why did Albany and Teton go blue. In the case of Albany county, it went blue largely because it is home of the University of Wyoming in Laramie. The youth vote was generally favorable to Obama throughout the election. As for Teton county, it is home to Jackson Hole and the most central base of Democratic support in the state.

As for exit polling, 67% of men and 63% of women favored McCain to 30% of men and 35% of women for Obama. In breaking down the vote by age, all age groups favored McCain (18-29:61%, 30-44:74%, and 45-64:62%).

Wyoming Called for McCain

2008-11-04T18:08:00.000-08:00

CNN called Wyoming for John McCain at 8:00 p.m. central.

One Day to Go!!!

2008-11-03T10:48:00.000-08:00

Wyoming has yet to waver in it support of John McCain and tomorrow will be no different. McCain will carry the sate with a large lead over opponent Barack Obama.

Latest Wyoming Poll Averages

2008-11-01T12:43:00.000-07:00

McCain: 60.1%
Obama: 35.8%

Coverage of Cheney's Campaign Stop in Laramie, ND Today

2008-11-01T12:24:00.000-07:00

Cheney To Campaign In Wyoming

2008-10-31T14:03:00.000-07:00

Vice President Dick Cheney will attend a Get-Out-the-Vote rally in Laramie, WY this Saturday reports Reuters. This will be a rare public sighting of the vice president on this year's campaign trail in a Republican stronghold state.

10 Days To Go!

2008-10-23T21:14:00.001-07:00

Here is a break down of Wyoming 10 days out from the election:

Current Status: Solid McCain
Current Polling: The average of current polling data shows McCain leading Obama 58.0% to 37.0%.
Previous Election Results: 2004-Republican (George W. Bush), 2000-Republican (George W. Bush), 1996-Republican (Bob Dole), 1992-Republican (George Bush Sr.)
Key Issues: Economy and Taxes, Energy
Other Influential Races on the Ticket: None

Analysis: Wyoming is unwavering in its support of the GOP ticket. This is one red state that McCain won't have to worry about playing defense in at all during the election. If all else fails, he can count on Wyoming's 3 electoral votes on Nov. 4.

Latest Polls Show Solid McCain

2008-10-21T08:58:00.000-07:00

If the election were being held in Wyoming, the latest polls show that John McCain would beat Barack Obama with 58% to 32%, according to the Casper Star Tribune. It seems that this is one red state McCain won't have to worry about defending come Election Day.

Though WY Remains Red, Obama Fans Still Show Support

2008-10-04T11:54:00.000-07:00

Around 150 Obama supporters packed into the Jackson Hole town square last Monday. The Jackson Hole Daily covered the event and quoted event organizer Amy McCarthy as saying, “I think it is going extremely well. The tone, the spirit has been positive, just like the Obama campaign, and it was important to us that it had that tone.” Despite the excitment at the event, organizers acknowledged that their state won't be turning blue any time soon. However, this baby-step approach can help rally Democrats in Wyoming in order to support local Democratic candidates.

Wyoming is Solid for McCain

2008-10-04T11:41:00.000-07:00

The Jackson Hole Planet released these Wyoming statistics to show just how conservative their state really is.

"...according to a Mason-Dixon poll of likely voters in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The August poll found that 77 percent of Wyoming voters want to stop illegal immigration with a border fence, while 47 percent support deporting illegal immigrants. Seventy-four percent support drilling for oil and gas on public lands, with 51 percent saying it’s more important than protecting the environment. Sixty-six percent support uranium mining for nuclear power, 81 percent decry gun-control laws as too restrictive, and 62 percent trust John McCain to handle the economy, compared with 27 percent for Barack Obama."

These numbers place Wyoming clearly in favor of John McCain come election day.

Is Palin Unprepared?

2008-09-18T20:01:00.001-07:00

My last post detailed how GOP Vice President hopeful Sarah Palin has cancelled her appearance at a fundraiser in Wyoming next week. Instead, the campaign is sending Cindy McCain to band-aid the situation. Now, Palin has also rescheduled fundraising appearances in California. Speculation suggests that Palin may not be prepared for her Vice Presidential debate coming up on October 2. Could this be a sign of weakness in the GOP ticket that has been getting so much attention lately?

Cindy McCain to Visit Wyoming

2008-09-18T16:30:00.001-07:00

Cindy McCain will be visiting the Teton Pines Counrty Club for a $2,500 plate breakfast on September 24. Although Sarah Palin had originally intended to make the trip, she is now being replaced by Mrs. McCain. An explanation for this switch has yet to be given. CBS News released the campaign agenda as follows:
The agenda for the campaign stop is a 7:30 a.m. roundtable, 8 a.m. photo opportunity and at 8:30 a.m. breakfast.
The agenda for the campaign stop is a 7:30 a.m. roundtable, 8 a.m. photo opportunity and at 8:30 a.m. breakfast.

Democrats Hope to Attract an Obama-Biden Visit in WY

2008-09-18T16:19:00.001-07:00

Despite the belief that Wyoming is a solidly red state, Democratic leaders within the state still hope to get some attention from the Obama-Biden ticket. Knowing that both Obama and Biden will have to campaign in other western battleground states close to Wyoming, Democratic leaders in the state hope to encourage a stop in WY along the way. Bill Luckett, the state's Democratic director, would settle for either Obama or Biden for a quick stop-over.

Maybe a quick visit to Wyoming wouldn't be a bad idea in light of Obama's new campaign emails encouraging supporters to donate more money to his campaign. The Associated Press reports that the DNC recently raised an estimated $450,000 for the Obama-Biden ticket in Teton County, WY. This sum came from a one night event devoid of any major Democratic Party names. Imagine what kind of money the campaign could rake in if one of the stars showed up at the next fundraising event.

Palin Gains Excitement in Wyoming

2008-09-17T10:39:00.000-07:00

The Anchorage Daily News reports that Palin is sparking enthusiams among Republicans who haven't really been invested in the political proccess in years. Particularly, this enthusiasm is being felt in states like Wyoming where Presidential campaigning is often far removed.

Reports say "Palin's appeal to Republicans is palpable in places like Wyoming, where people don't experience the once-a-week visits that voters in battleground states such as Ohio or Pennsylvania see. Palin has a Sept. 24 fundraiser that is drawing people not just from Wyoming, but Idaho and Montana too, said Maggie Scarlett, who serves with her husband as the finance co-chair for the McCain campaign in Wyoming."

It seems that Palin is reinvigorating the solid Republican base and painting the West red in her wake.

50 DAYS TO GO!!!

2008-09-15T10:41:00.000-07:00

Here is a break down of how Wyoming is looking 5o days before the election:

Current Status: Strong McCain
Current Polling: McCain leading Obama 59.7% to 33.2%
Previous Election Results: 2004-Republican (George W. Bush), 2000-Republican (George W. Bush), 1996-Republican (Bob Dole), 1992-Republican (George Bush Sr.)
Key Issues: Economy and Taxes, Energy
Other Influential Races on the Ticket: None

Wyoming, A Deep Shade of Red

2008-09-12T14:47:00.000-07:00

Wyoming is decidedly a red state. With only three electoral votes at stake, neither Obama nor McCain have focused much campaign attention on the state. According to pollster.com, McCain has leads the state with a 59.7% approval rate.