CQ Politics | 2008 Election Forecast: Minnesota - the ‘Polka-Dot’ State

READ MORE HERE: CQ Politics | 2008 Election Forecast: Minnesota - the ‘Polka-Dot’ State: "The Democrats’ presidential winning streak in Minnesota, the longest in any state, is at eight elections. This is because, by a narrow margin, its voters stuck with native son Walter F. Mondale over President Ronald Reagan in 1984. The last Republican to carry the state for president was incumbent Richard M. Nixon in 1972, when he won every state except Massachusetts; Minnesota Democratic icon Hubert H. Humphrey held the state over Nixon in 1968.

Minnesota’s electorate is often described as “purple” — an even mix of Democratic “blue” and Republican “red.” Larry Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota, said the state could better be described as “polka-dotted.”

“There are some really very strong blue areas — the Twin Cities are about as liberal as you can get, particularly Minneapolis — and some very strong red areas. And then you’ve got these kind of lighter shades. But purple . . . not statewide,” Jacobs said."