The Blueing of the 'Burbs

This article summarizes the growing disenchantment on the part of moderate Republicans, as well as the increasing numbers of registered Democrats, in the formerly republican stronghold counties outside Philadelphia. We can certainly pat ourselves on the back a little for contributing to those voter registration numbers.

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (AP) - Growing disenchantment over the Iraq war is proving the great equalizer in many areas, blurring traditional social and demographic distinctions that made it easy to paint sections of the electoral map red or blue.

Take the well-off Philadelphia suburbs, bastions of sidewalk cafes and million-dollar-plus homes. Here, Ginny McGovern, a mother of two and a nutrition therapist, no longer considers herself the lone Democratic voice among a chorus of Republicans.

McGovern said she and her neighbors now are singing from the same page - at least on issues such as the war, spending and President Bush.

"I think they were all for Bush in the beginning, but I think now they've kind of changed their tune a little bit," said McGovern, 42. "It doesn't matter if they're Republican or Democrat, they all think it's unnecessary."


(AP) Attorney Matt Meyer and wife Inger, both 36, with daughter Astrid walk in downtown in Doylestown,...
Full Image


The wealthy Philadelphia suburbs historically have been a Republican stronghold, but recent shifts in voter registration and voting patterns have moved the region toward the Democrats.

This summer, for the first time since the state began keeping registration records in 1934, slightly more than 49 percent of voters in the four-county region listed their affiliation as Republican.

In 1990, 63 percent of voters in Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties were Republicans. Since then, Democratic registration has increased 7 percent to more than one-third of voters while the number of independent and minor party members doubled to 14 percent.

Whether the registration shift coupled with unhappiness with the president, the war and the country's direction translates into Democratic wins in three GOP-held seats and the competitive Senate race is the million-dollar question.

Hopefully, this will translate into a Lois Herr victory. The Casey campaign also considers the suburban Philadelphia counties a key to winning in November.

Submitted by Karen L.

Link