Red and Blue Map continued 

Red and Blue Map continued

A bit more research:

The complete list of Bush states and Kerry states (right hand column).

Executions by state since 1976.

Briefly, of 12 states that don't have the death penalty on the books, 8 are Kerry states, 4 Bush.

More surprisingly, the states that have carried out fewer than 10 executions since 1976, including the 12 already mentioned, are evenly divided: 16K, 16B. Similarly those that have carried out fewer than 15: 19K, 19B.

At the other extreme, Texas has carried out 323--more than a third. All the states that have carried out more than 20 executions since 1976 (12 states) are Bush states.

What about taxes?

Of the top 10 highest-taxed states, 7 are K, 3 are B. (Red and blue states have similar tax burdens in the middle of the pack: 15 highest-taxed, 10K, 5B; 20 highest, 11K, 9B). Of the opposite top 10--lowest taxed states, 8 are B, 2 are K.

UPDATE Nov. 20: What about gun laws and gun ownership (if illegal gun ownership can somehow be estimated).

Four big states with the most restrictive gun control laws are New York, California, Illinois and Massachusetts. Washington, DC makes it almost impossible to possess a gun legally. All these jurisdictions went for Kerry. Over 30 states now have "shall issue" laws, or laws allowing the concealed carrying of a gun. (Up from only 10 such states in the mid-80s). I don't have a list of them, and I'm certain they're not all Bush states, but I'm also certain almost all are.

The NRA says: "Today, 54% of the U.S. population, including 64% of handgun owners, live in Right-to-Carry states." Hmmm... 54%. That's enough to win a general election.