2008 Primary: Missouri decides

Missouri has been called a bellwether state during past presidential elections. In “Bellwether Politics in Missouri,” Dave Robertson, a political science professor at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, explained what has made Missouri a consistent indicator of national trends:

“Missouri is a relentlessly average state,” Robertson said in an interview.

He noted Missouri’s central location and demographics that are representative of the nation except for its Latino population.

Politically, the Show-Me State is middle of the road with a conservative bent on social issues, Roberton said. The influence of Democrats in the state, he noted, is concentrated in St. Louis County, Jackson County in the Kansas City metro area and Boone County.

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