What happened to the coastal Pacific Northwest in 88?

[Indy Prez]

Traditionally GOP Oregon goes Dem comfortably to Dukikas as well as swingy Washington. What's up there? Lumber industry collapse?

[Californian Tony]

Just a regular long-term trend boosted by national swing. See California 1992.

[OC]

Due to the increase in Chinese manufacturing and Japanese automobiles, those ethnic groups migrated to the West Coast including WA,OR,HI and CA. Along with the Mexican migration those states went left.

[Indy Prez]

Due to the increase in Chinese manufacturing and Japanese automobiles, those ethnic groups migrated to the West Coast including WA,OR,HI and CA. Along with the Mexican migration those states went left.

Asian-Americans were big GOP supporters thanks to Johnson's legacy in Vietnam and Eisenhower's pulling out of Korea and a generally conservative work ethic, so much so that up until the LA riots of 92 they were considered a solid GOP block -cept the Hawaiians of course (due to environmental issues).

[Seattle]

Due to the increase in Chinese manufacturing and Japanese automobiles, those ethnic groups migrated to the West Coast including WA,OR,HI and CA. Along with the Mexican migration those states went left.

While true, they have nothing to do with the Pacific coast of Oregon and Washington. The coast is very white with smatterings of native american tribes. I don't know about Oregon, but the coastal counties in WA had been the center for Democrat strength the longest in WA (before Seattle).

[Fuzzy]

The farm crisis and the Republicans' collapse in urban areas (like Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, etc.) helped Dukakis substantially.