A New Democratic Era?

Presidential Politics in Pennsylvania, 1984-1996

Abstract

This article examines changes in general elections in Pennsylvania from 1984 to 1996. The county level vote of New Democrat Bill Clinton is compared with that of traditional Democrats, Walter Mondale and Michael Dukakis. Clinton won Pennsylvania by gaining votes in the traditionally Republican suburban counties around Philadelphia. Compared to that of previous Democratic presidential candidates, Clinton's percentage of the vote actually declined in the Democratic counties of western Pennsylvania.