Business Statistics: What Determines Differences in Political Party Preference Among Us States
What Determines Differences in Political Party Preference Among States in America?
Introduction Anyone who has ever participated in an election or follows politics has most likely observed a dramatic difference in political ideologies from state to state in America. During presidential elections we often see images of the United States broken into blue and red sections for each states political party preference. This poses the question on every electoral candidates mind, what factors contribute to a state generally voting to the left and vice versa? Political candidates and their party campaigners employ numerous strategies each year to change our political view, whether it is Democratic or Republican. However, while some of these tactics might work, most of us do not gain our political opinions from a campaign scheme. Rather through the various environmental factors we grow up in our political philosophies begin to formulate. Although it is nearly impossible to identify the key contributors to a person’s political beliefs, distinguishing the central determinants to a general populations political ideology is critical. It is crucial for not only political campaigners and analysts, but also the American public, that we understand how voting choices are determined and thus why our President is chosen over another candidate. In the next few pages I will be conducting a statistical analysis using multiple regression to determine what factors go into a states general political party preference.
Literature Review The determinants of political party preference for a single person, state or a general region have been studied extensively not only in the United States but also across the world. Our nation is intrigued by the political ideology differences that appear among people of diverse races, demographics and incomes. Not only is it important to recognize these variables that may affect a party preference, but there is also a need to determine
Introduction Anyone who has ever participated in an election or follows politics has most likely observed a dramatic difference in political ideologies from state to state in America. During presidential elections we often see images of the United States broken into blue and red sections for each states political party preference. This poses the question on every electoral candidates mind, what factors contribute to a state generally voting to the left and vice versa? Political candidates and their party campaigners employ numerous strategies each year to change our political view, whether it is Democratic or Republican. However, while some of these tactics might work, most of us do not gain our political opinions from a campaign scheme. Rather through the various environmental factors we grow up in our political philosophies begin to formulate. Although it is nearly impossible to identify the key contributors to a person’s political beliefs, distinguishing the central determinants to a general populations political ideology is critical. It is crucial for not only political campaigners and analysts, but also the American public, that we understand how voting choices are determined and thus why our President is chosen over another candidate. In the next few pages I will be conducting a statistical analysis using multiple regression to determine what factors go into a states general political party preference.
Literature Review The determinants of political party preference for a single person, state or a general region have been studied extensively not only in the United States but also across the world. Our nation is intrigued by the political ideology differences that appear among people of diverse races, demographics and incomes. Not only is it important to recognize these variables that may affect a party preference, but there is also a need to determine
References: Gelman, Andrew, et al. "Rich State, Poor State, Red State, Blue State: What’s the Matter with Connecticut?" Quarterly Journal of Political Science 2 (2007): 345–367. Print. Presidential Studies Quarterly 38.no. 3 (2008): n. pag. Duke University "2012 Statistical Abstract" The US Census Bureau. N.p., 27 Sept. 2011