This Article said:

Red states and blue states have several demographic differences from each other. The association between colors and demographics was notably made in a column by Mike Barnicle, and reinforced in a controversial response from Paul Begala (though the association between demographics and voting patterns was well known before that). The most common observation is that the majority of red states tend to feature more rural area, with agriculture being one of the most important industries. The majority of blue states tend to be more urban, have higher per capita income, and are more multicultural. These demographic trends, along with less obvious correlations, have been analysed in detail by conservative pundit Steve Sailer.

The demographic differences between smaller geographical areas applies as well to counties, which follow the same trend as states. The results of the 2004 presidential election support this, as even red states contain blue counties, particularly counties that include major cities. For example, out of the 17 counties that constitute Nevada, only Clark County was won by Democratic candidate John Kerry. Not only is Clark County the most populous county in Nevada, but its county seat is the city of Las Vegas. The second-closest county?in which Republican candidate George W. Bush won by the slimmest margin?was Washoe County. The county seat of Washoe County is the city of Reno.

However, one exception to this is probably Indiana, where in the 2004 presidential elections Allen County voted Bush by 63%. Allen County is home to Fort Wayne. In addition, Vanderburgh County, home of Evansville voted Bush by 59%. Marion County, home of Indianapolis was only a win for Kerry by a 1% margin.

Taking the differences in demographics even further, one could argue that the current red-blue divide bears a resemblance to the divide prior to the American Civil War noting, however, that the "blue" states, save Kentucky, New Jersey and Delaware, were won in the 1864 election by Republican Abraham Lincoln. Similarly, one may compare the sectionalism of the 1860 U.S. presidential election to the presidential elections of 2000 and 2004, though with the Republican and Democratic regions reversed. However, it should be noted that these comparisons are subjective and are not scientific.

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This Article said:

The perceived division between red states and blue states has triggered a pronounced (if perhaps brief) introspection among some blue staters and red staters. Feelings of cultural and political polarization, which have gained increased media attention since the 2004 election, may have led in some quarters to increased mutual feelings of alienation and enmity. These attitudes have led to the often jocular suggestion that a red state-blue state secession is in order. The Jesusland map is one such joke, a satirical map that redraws the U.S.-Canada border to reflect this sociopolitical schism.

The polarization has been present for only two close elections (2000 and 2004). In the 1996 election, 31 U.S. states were "blue" and 19 "red" (though at the time the colors were reversed). One thing that has been more consistant over this period is that the average "blue" state has a greater number of people and electoral votes than does the average "red" state. (When George W. Bush won 31 states in 2004, he gathered 286 electoral votes ? 9 electoral votes for each state won. When Bill Clinton won 31 states in 1996, he tallied 379 electoral votes ? 12 electoral votes per state carried.)

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