Obama's U.S. travels reflect voting trends

Published: June 21, 2009 at 1:31 PM

WASHINGTON, June 21 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama's domestic travel itinerary since taking office has followed a pattern of going where the votes matter most, analysts say.

Since his election victory last year, Obama has spoken in Ohio, North Carolina, Missouri, Indiana and Florida, all places in which his margin of victory or defeat last November was fewer than 5 percentage points, The Washington Post reported Sunday.

The newspaper noted that of the 16 states Obama has visited since taking office, nine shifted from the Republican to Democratic column in the 2008 election while five were among the six that posted the narrowest margins of victory for either the president or his opponent, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

"It's hard (to look) at a map and not see red, purple and blue states," Robert Gibbs, Obama's press secretary, told the Post. "But as the president said famously, people aren't looking for red, blue or purple solutions, only those that will improve their daily lives."

"Every president keeps his eye on the next election, and all of them have a laser focus on the battleground states because those are the ones that matter," added Darrell West, director of governance studies at the Brookings Institution.

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
Discount airlines gaining an edge (31 min)
Retail sales slightly down in the week (31 min)
NASA releases unique view of the Milky Way (38 min)
Ants can attack trees to make housing
Study: Genomes can vary by region
UPI NewsTrack Business
Luxury retail heads for the Internet
fark
Not news: Woman buys $300 worth of stuff from Menards. Still not news: They don't charge her for...
Possible hostage situation in Jefferson City, MO government building. Information is sparse, but...
In honor of the Marine Corps birthday here is a list of notable Marines. Jonathan Winters? Really?...
Apparently, more people will want to buy a product that is offered at a cheaper price compared to...
Rubber baby buggy bummer
Pepper spray + hand dryer + McDonalds = bad idea