|
|||||||||||||
The most 'representative' state: WisconsinBy Mark Preston About TMGThe Morning Grind is brought to you every weekday morning by CNN's Political Unit.
Comments, questions or tips, please e-mail us at morning.grind@cnn.com
On CNN TVRelatedYOUR E-MAIL ALERTSWASHINGTON (CNN) -- Looking for a state that is a microcosm of the whole country? You won't find it in Iowa or New Hampshire -- there are 25 states that come closer to average statewide measures on important characteristics such as race and income. What about Nevada or South Carolina? Nope. They're even further away from "real America" than New Hampshire -- or Utah, for that matter. Michigan? You're getting warmer, but there are 10 states that can claim to be more representative than Michigan. In fact, a politician looking for that mythical microcosm -- the most typical state in the country -- should look no further than Wisconsin. The Badger State comes closer than any other to state-by-state averages on 12 key measures, according to a new analysis by CNN Polling Director Keating Holland that takes a fresh look at U.S. Census data. "For years, politicians who put the presidential calendar together have wrestled with the question of which states really are the most typical or more representative of the country," Holland said. "Here is one way to determine that." Holland identified 12 key statistics -- four that measure race and ethnicity, four that look at income and education, and four that describe the typical neighborhood in each state -- and added up how far each was from the figures for the average state on each measure. Holland said he chose these 12 different categories because "they have a strong impact on the political landscape in every state." Close behind Wisconsin are four other Midwestern states that look most like a hypothetical average state -- Missouri, Kansas, Indiana and Ohio. Most of the least-typical states tend to come from the Northeast, including Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. West Virginia is in 49th place, while Mississippi comes in dead last. Interestingly, West Virginia and Mississippi both petitioned the Democratic National Committee to be chosen for early slots on the party's presidential nominating calendar in 2008. So did Michigan. They all lost. The DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee recently recommended that Nevada and South Carolina join Iowa and New Hampshire for this coveted placement on the presidential nominating calendar. The full DNC membership is likely to ratify the recommendations next month. So, what makes Wisconsin so special -- or, to put it another way, what makes Wisconsin so average? It is about as close to the average state as you can get on most of the 12 measures included in this study. For example, let's take the number of college graduates who live in each state. Wyoming is dead center among all 50 states, with 30.22% of its population holding a college degree. In Wisconsin, the number is 30.24%. Or take housing values. On a state-by-state basis the median housing value, in North Carolina, is just over $111,600. The median housing value in Wisconsin is roughly $111,500. The Badger State is also fairly close to the state-by-state average on population growth, home ownership, population density, and the number of blacks and Hispanics who live there. The number of whites and blue-collar workers who live in Wisconsin is much further away from the average state's figures on those measures, but not enough to keep the Badger State from claiming the top spot. Mississippi, on the other hand, is about as far away from the average state as you can get on most of the 12 measures included in this study. By some measures, Mississippi is the poorest and most rural state in the country. The average house in Mississippi is worth only about $71,000. (Only Oklahoma has a lower median housing value.) When you add it all up, Mississippi is so far away from the typical state on so many different measures that it ends up at the bottom of the list. "It's important to note that there are hundreds of ways of making this same calculation, and dozens of states could all make a legitimate claim to being the most representative state in the nation," Holland said. To make the calculations easier to understand, Holland recalculated each state's score to produce a zero-to-50 scale -- there are 50 states, after all -- with a high score indicating a state that is more representative than a state with a lower score. A ranking of the 50 states 1. Wisconsin 36.4 2. Missouri 35.2 3. Kansas 34.4 4. Indiana 30.8 5. Ohio 30.1 6. Oklahoma 29.9 7. Oregon 29.3 8. Nebraska 29.0 9. Georgia 27.3 10. Minnesota 26.9 11. Michigan 26.8 12. Washington 26.3 13. Wyoming 25.9 14. North Carolina 25.8 15. Florida 25.6 16. Montana 25.3 17. Virginia 25.3 18. Alaska 25.1 19. Pennsylvania 25.0 20. Arizona 24.8 21. Delaware 24.1 22. Tennessee 22.3 23. South Dakota 21.4 24. Kentucky 20.3 25. New Mexico 20.3 26. Iowa 19.6 27. Texas 19.6 28. Illinois 19.5 29. Rhode Island 19.0 30. Maryland 18.9 31. Colorado 18.8 32. Louisiana 18.3 33. Idaho 18.1 34. Vermont 17.9 35. Maine 17.4 36. New Hampshire 17.4 37. Utah 17.0 38. Hawaii 16.3 39. South Carolina 15.8 40. California 15.3 41. Arkansas 15.0 42. Alabama 14.6 43. North Dakota 13.8 44. Nevada 13.5 45. Connecticut 13.1 46. Massachusetts 11.6 47. New Jersey 11.4 48. New York 6.5 49. West Virginia 4.8 50. Mississippi 2.8 Talking up RichardsonNew Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's top political aide is in Washington, D.C. this week talking to strategists and fundraisers about the New Mexico Democrat's re-election in November as well as his role as head of the Democratic Governors Association. But in many cases, the conversations with Dave Contarino, chairman of Richardson's gubernatorial re-election campaign, are turning to 2008. A source close to Richardson tells the Grind that laying the groundwork for 2008 is "not the primary reason" why Contarino is in town, but added "certainly when it comes up, he is not discouraging it. "He is willing to talk about the governor's resume and how he would be a strong candidate if he decides to run," the source said. The source said that Richardson, himself, "can't go anywhere these days without the presidential questions coming up. "Obviously, it is no secret the governor is considering it and we believe he has got the best resume of the group, particularly at this time in history where foreign policy, international relations and diplomacy is such a key part of what the next president is going to need," said the source. Before he was elected governor in 2002, Richardson served in the House, as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and as Energy secretary. 19 hearings, 8 Committees, 12 StatesHouse Republican leaders this morning will announce the newest round of field hearings on illegal immigration that will take place in 12 states over the August recess. The House and Senate remain at loggerheads over how to address the illegal immigration issue, a dispute that also pits House Republican leaders against President Bush. Specifically, House Republicans oppose a Bush/Senate backed plan that would create a system to allow current illegal immigrants living in the U.S. an opportunity to gain citizenship. House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois), just back from a fact-finding mission to the Southern border, will reiterate his opposition to the proposal when he unveils the new border hearing schedule. "Before we can look at other immigration issues, we must first secure our borders," Hastert will say, according to an advanced copy of his remarks obtained by the Grind. "I am disappointed that the Democrats support a plan for open borders and a plan for amnesty. Their plan is just plain unacceptable." Hastert will also emphasize Republicans' belief that "border security is an issue of national security," a GOP theme that is expected to be echoed on the campaign trail in the closing months of the 2006 campaign. "It is not a secret that terrorists and drug runners -- who want to do us harm -- are trying to find ways into our country and I believe we must first do everything we can to stop them," Hastert will say. A complete list of House hearings Judiciary Committee Armed Services Committee Homeland Security Committee Intelligence Committee Education and the Workforce Committee Energy and Commerce Committee Government Reform Committee Resources Committee Democrat's election year pushHouse and Senate Democrats will huddle behind closed doors this afternoon for a part strategy session/part pep rally as the minority party begins a final push to try and take back Congress in November. A Democratic leadership aide tells the Grind the meeting is intended to talk about the party's "closing arguments" it will make to voters as to why "there needs to be a new direction for America." "Now is when Democrats begin to make Republicans pay for wasting the last 19 months catering to the radical right and rubberstamping George Bush," the aide said. "We're fanning out across the country to ensure every American who wants a new direction knows that's what they'll get in a Democratic Congress." Democratic leaders are book-ending the meeting beginning with an off-camera political briefing at the Mott House and closing with an on-camera news conference at the Russell Senate Swamp. A Senate Republican's worse nightmareFor Republican senators, one Harry Reid is enough to contend with. But two could be downright aggravating. Even Reid would agree that two of him spells trouble. The Senate Minority Leader from Nevada discovered this week that he was a victim of identity theft after someone used his MasterCard number to charge about $2,000 at a Wal-Mart and other stores in Monroe, N.C., CNN's Ted Barrett reports. "It's not a tremendous inconvenience for me," he said. "I won't have to pay it." But Reid said he is steamed about the fact the perpetrator likely will never be caught. "Something has to be done," he said, holding up his now-deactivated card. Reid said he found out someone had obtained the number after opening his bill Tuesday night. Reid said he does not know how someone obtained the number or whether he has been the victim of a broader identity theft -- a problem that affects millions of Americans every year. The question is if the new Harry Reid can make a purchase at Wal-Mart, can he also launch a filibuster? DAYAHEAD/Events making news todayPolitical Hot TopicsThe top stories being reported by other news organizations The Morning Grind
|
|
© 2007 Cable News Network. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. Site Map. |
|