Mapping South Carolina

Nick Beaudrot makes a map showing Obama's performance county-by-county across South Carolina. Due to the scale of his victory, it's not actually a very interesting map (though that, of course, is an interesting finding). This map is more interesting, but I daren't try to explain exactly what it's a map of.

Comments

I think all that map really proves is Obama was so sure he would win that he sacrificed votes in two counties in order to prank us all and draw a wang on South Carolina.

Posted by bwaage | January 28, 2008 8:42 AM

At first, I thought I saw the virgin Mary in the map. But no, when I cocked my head a little to the left (no pun intended), I clearly see Bill giving HRC the thumb's up.

Posted by Econobuzz | January 28, 2008 9:01 AM

"This map is more interesting, but I daren't try to explain exactly what it's a map of."

Tangentially, as my grandfather used to say, "I dursn't try.."

Posted by David | January 28, 2008 9:04 AM

Hillary won the shag music vote (Myrtle Beach).

Posted by BlindJoeDeath | January 28, 2008 9:24 AM

That this map isn't very interesting is exactly what is so interesting.

You see, this map isn't interesting because it's pretty homogeneous. Obama just plain won everywhere (all but two counties, for anyone who is counting).

But the fact that Obama won everywhere is, in fact, really interesting. The crude demographic explanations of his victory really don't do justice to its breadth. He won poorer counties along with richer ones. He won counties with more old people along with more youthful counties. He won counties with very few blacks as well as those with many. He won all but one of the counties in Appalachian country, even -- where the demography is poorer, whiter, and older all at the same time.

Posted by aretino | January 28, 2008 9:38 AM

I wish this map represented population better -- I don't deny Obama's significant win, but it would be helpful to see rural and urban areas broken out better. Otherwise, this is like one of those maps that shows large red swathes in the Mountain states in presidential elections without pointing out that those places are largely empty.

Posted by Brian | January 28, 2008 9:54 AM

Brian,

The only urban area Clinton won is in the upper east coast section (Horry county) - that's Myrtle Beach. This area is known for tourism, golf (Iggy Pop’s dad moved there to golf year round) and retirees (older white demographic). Think Branson for beach music.
Clinton also faired well in Oconee County, which is very rural (except around Clemson University).
I'm not surprised at how well Obama did from Greenville to Charleston, but I am surprised he won Aiken county.

Posted by BlindJoeDeath | January 28, 2008 10:32 AM

I believe Edwards won Oconee County.

Posted by John | January 28, 2008 10:36 AM

John,
Yes, Edwards did win Oconee, which makes perfect since. I really feel bad for Edwards, the man just cannot get any traction, even in what should be his home court.

Posted by BlindJoeDeath | January 28, 2008 11:17 AM

You need a diffusion cartogram for this - to represent population weighting to the reader by the rendered size of the county.

Posted by sherifffruitfly | January 28, 2008 11:52 AM

The big problem with this map, it seems to me, is that it compares only two candidates [Clinton and Obama] in a three-way race. A more informative map would simply look at Obama's percentages. I eyeballed those myself Saturday evening [I'm a native of the state, and know it quite well]; Obama scored less than a majority in a band of counties from sandhilly Chesterfield [poor soil, ergo few plantations, ergo few blacks] across the Upcountry to Edwards's natal county of Oconee [with urban Greenville just barely reaching fifty percent], plus almost lily-white suburban Lexington, suburbanizing Newberry, and resort-dominated Horry. These are generally the places where Edwards also did best. But, as other commenters have pointed out, what's striking is the breadth of Obama's support; only in Horry and the three westernment counties [Anderson, Pickens, and Oconee] did he get under forty percent [Wonder where the Clemson students went?].

One disheartening feature for me--like Edwards, an ex-mill kid--is that Edwards's voters have little to do with his putative populist appeal, as they tend to be more conservative and better educated [lots of post-graduate degrees--maybe all those trial lawyers?] than Clinton's or Obama's voters--and, of course, heavily white male. If Edwards's niche is going to be the candidate for white guys who can't bring themselves to vote for a woman or a black guy, he might as well hang it up.

Posted by David | January 28, 2008 12:16 PM

The problem is, diffusion cartograms look really ugly. I suppose I should put dots for major population centers or something.

Posted by Nicholas Beaudrot | January 28, 2008 2:21 PM

One thing to note, Obama won Jasper and Beaufort counties. These are the bottom two coastal counties that include the cities of Hilton Head and Beaufort. Not only is Parris Island located here, but also the Sun City and Del Webb retirement mega-communities. This is an area of SC with strong military connections and many retirees. I thought Hillary would win Hilton Head, for sure.

Posted by Just Karl | January 28, 2008 8:36 PM