Question

Why do you think there is such a divide in overall political opinion between the coastal states, and the southern and “heartland” states?

Answer 1

The political condition of United State, is divided ideologically, economically and culturally and the different zone of area experience different kind of factors which influence political conditions of related zone.

Political Opinions in Coastal States- The coastal states of US support democrats probably, the democrats raise the issues of public interests and also support social issues, which attracts coastal population.

Here I would like to mention Andrew Gelman, who classified states as Red, Blue, Rich and Poor, according to Gelman, Wealthy people tend to vote conservative with their presumed economic interests.

I think the above statement is nothing more than a fallacy, to understand the reality, we should have think beyond the traditional approaches and we would find culture war is actual an economic war and the political scenario influenced by economic issues rather than cultural issue.

Political Opinions in Southern States- The southern part of country faced many movements in past so that the participation and personal interests made political differences in southern states of America, the racial factors, migration and ideologically factors divided states into democrats and republican ideology, the whites are strong supporter of Republican while Blacks, Hispanics and migrated people support Democrats.

The liberal position of Democratic Party rejected by the white voters of southern states and support republicans in south, majority of white voters made strong position of republican in South.

Political opinions in Heart lands- The political conditions in central states is little bit different from coastal and southern states, the support for democrats and republican is almost equal in central states, migrated population support both republican and democrats.

Central states have different kind of cultural and social issues so that they support as per need, the polarization is not important political condition in central states.