Craig Runde Tremendous media attention has focused on vote counting in the United States presidential election. In this and other aspects of the 2000 elections the U.S. populace seems evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats. A closer view of voting patterns shows Republican strength among whites, men, conservative religious groups and economically well off.
Democrats find more support among women, minorities, union members and the poor.
The rise of the Green Party under consumer activist, Ralph Nader, was quite pronounced. Many commentators suggest that he will have been the deciding factor if Bush beats Gore. While Nader did not receive much media coverage he gave a good showing, especially in more progressive parts of the country. Nader strongly attacked both Republican and Democratic positions arguing that the current American political system is rotten to the core because of the influence of large contributions from the corporate sector. Perhaps the defining moment of the 2000 race was when Nader was refused the right to participate in the presidential debates.