The 2016 U.S. presidential elections shamed pollsters and pundits and once again validated the split in the American electorate. Clinton won the popular vote taking 48% of ballots compared to Trump's 46.0%. However, Trump won a landslide of counties taking 85% of the nation's 3,142 counties.
Digging beneath the surface, voting behavior provides a distinct profile of the two camps. For example, single mothers with children, college graduates, welfare recipients, and foreign born were more likely to support Clinton. On the other the hand, married voters, high school graduates, and those living in a different state in 2015 were more likely to vote for Trump.
The most important factor explaining Clinton vote totals was the share of the county with a bachelor's degree or above. The most significant characteristic explaining Trump county wins was the percentage of the county that was married.
Holmes County, Ohio with $392 per capita welfare benefits, 70% married, 4% unmarried mothers, 1% foreign born and 7.8% college graduates was the county with the population profile least likely to support Clinton. New York County, New York with $1,300 per capita welfare benefits, 26% married, 12% unmarried mothers, 29% foreign born, and 60% college graduates was the county with the population profile least likely to vote for Trump.
American writer, Gore Vidal once said, "Half of the American people have never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half."
Ernie Goss
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