Rural Voters
Since 2004 the Center for Rural Strategies has produced the Rural Tracker, a national nonpartisan poll of rural voters in battleground states. The poll is deisgned to show how the opinions of rural voters help shape presidential and congressional races.
In recent elections, rural voters have been decisive. When Republican candidates run up big margins among rural voters, they win national elections. When Democrats decrease the Republican lead in rural areas, Democrats tend to win elections. These trends held true in the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections and in the 2006 midterm election for House and Senate.
Partners in the Rural Tracker have included the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the National Rural Assembly. The polls have been reported on NPR and other national and regional outlets.
Rural Tracker Advisers
The Rural Tracker, a poll of rural voters in battleground states, is a project of the Center for Rural Strategies, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization.
Poll analysts are:
- Anna Greenberg, a Democrat analyst and pollster who is senior vice president and principal with Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research.
- William I Greener III, Republican strategist and founding partner of Greener & Hook.
Rural Tracker 2004 & 2006
More on 2008 Rural Vote
The Election, State by State -- Rural voters in the 2008 presidential election
Obama's Iowa Campaign -- A family newspaper offered the best seat in the house for viewing the 2008 election.
Counties that Flipped -- 375 counties voted for one party in the 2004 presidential election and a different party this year. The Yonder is keeping a list.
2008 Presidential Election
Rural Strategies and the National Rural Assembly commissioned three nonpartisan polls of rural voters during the 2008 presidential election season.
Rural battleground moved toward Obama during October (October 1-21, 2008)
McCain leads by 10 in rural battleground (September 16-18, 2008)
McCain leads Obama by 9 in rural battleground (May 13-15, 2008)