Why could Jimmy Carter and Michael Dukakis carry West Virginia, but Al Gore and John Kerry couldn't?

Question

Why could Jimmy Carter carry West Virginia TWICE, even in the 1980 Reagan landslide, Michael Dukakis could even carry West Virginia, Bill Clinton carried it twice by huge margins both times, yet Al Gore and John Kerry lost there? I ask because If Al Gore had won this state, he'd have been elected President. The state was more reliably Democratic than Tennessee, and he should have realized the only Dems to carry Florida were Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter in 1976 and 1996 respectively, not to mention the fact that Bush's bro was governor, the chair of campaign the sec. of state there, with a GOP legislature. Why did he lost this key state, and what can Dems do to win it again?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

West Virginia is a predominately Democratic State. But in during the 2000 election, calls were made to the Democratic voters in WV from Texas stating the Gore was going to take away guns. (Hmm, wonder who did that dirty trick??). People in West Virgina enjoy hunting! Definitely not something good.

Regarding John Kerry, I think his inaction on addressing the Swift Boat ads hurt him all around. However, there are a lot of Veterans in West Virginia...I did hear remarks that Kerry made a big production out of throwing his metals away but actually the metals were not his! Also, the fact that Kerry traveled with Jane Fonda protesting the war made the people being deployed to Vietnam feel betrayed! Jane Fonda was called Hanoi Jane and that did not go over well at all with the Vietnam vets. I think Kerry strong armed his way in...John Edwards was a much better candidate!!

I think Hillary will do well in West Virginia...they did support Bill!!

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

grate points

Answer 2

People became educated about the Democrats

Jimmy "Give Hamas a Chance" Carter

Answer 3

Following Jimmy Carter's election, WV became a "Reagan Democrat" state.

I was actually surprised Dukakis carried WV since it tends to be conservative.

Answer 4

Look who you are talking about two of the most boring people to ever run for president..Gore/Kerry..plus they did run into the best smear machine in decades run by Karl Rove..It just shows personality definitely matters..

Answer 5

To qoute the great political scientist, Bob Dylan: "The times they are a changin' ".

Answer 6

Nothing people in W.V don't like to be hated because they are White!

Answer 7

Because no one cares about West Virginia. They can't seem to get over their coach leaving.

Answer 8

I am from West Virginia and it was all over guns. There are a lot of hunters and they are worried that once you begin taking some guns away, that it may jeopardize their use of hunting rifles. It may be hard for some Americans to recognize, but a lot of rural people rely on the meat they get from hunting to sustain their families. It's how I grew up.

Answer 9

they liked wallowing around in old news

Answer 10

I'm a WV resident and the the main reason Gore lost was his stance on the environment. People in the state were concerned because coal is our primary source of employment and residents thought he would be bad for business. Kerry lost for the same reason. Both elections were also covered in the whole right to bare arms issue as well.

Answer 11

I agree with kimbers.. in this state, it's all about gun control. People here love to hunt, and when someone threatens to take their guns away, they are going to run in the opposite direction... plain and simple.