Travel-Election Survey Results

RESULTS OF THE TRAVEL-ELECTION SURVEY:

HIGHLIGHTS (among U.S. citizens):

1. KERRY SUPPORTERS VISITED BELGIUM AND NEW ZEALAND THE MOST RELATIVE TO BUSH SUPPORTERS

2. BUSH SUPPORTERS VISITED BERMUDA AND CAYMAN ISLANDS THE MOST RELATIVE TO KERRY SUPPORTERS

3. SAUDI ARABIA WAS VOTED #1 LEAST FAVORITE COUNTRY BY KERRY SUPPORTERS

4. FRANCE WAS VOTED #1 LEAST FAVORITE COUNTRY BY BUSH SUPPORTERS

The travel-election survey, taken in late August and September 2004, shows vivid contrasts in the travel habits and geographical preferences between Kerry and Bush supporters (among U.S. citizens). Travelers from the U.S. to various European countries were more likely to support Kerry than Bush (with Ireland and Greece being 2 exceptions), while U.S. travelers to the Caribbean were more likely to support Bush than Kerry. Most Asian nations (except the Philippines), plus Australia had more Kerry supporters than Bush supporters, but with smaller margins than in Europe. For most Latin American countries, travelers were an even mix of Kerry and Bush supporters. In general, it appears that "resort locations" like the Caribbean (and Hawaii, in the U.S. state list) were more frequently visited by Bush supporters, while locations more famous for backpackers and hostels, such as in Europe and South/Southeast Asia were more frequently visited by Kerry supporters.

The United States was the #1 favorite country among both Kerry and Bush supporters. However, Kerry supporters were more likely to choose a country other than the U.S. than Bush supporters. The differences became significant (and political) when least favorite country was considered. Saudi Arabia (a dictatorship with a harsh desert climate) was #1 in the least favorite category for Kerry supporters, yet France (a Democracy with an idyllic countryside which is also the most visited country in the world) was the least favorite among Bush supporters (most likely due to France not supporting the U.S. in the war in Iraq). However, in a rare show of unity, both Kerry and Bush supporters selected North Korea as their second least favorite country.

Significant differences appeared in favorite states. California was the favorite among Kerry supporters, while Florida and Texas were tied for #1 among Bush supporters. Bush supporters were more likely to pick their own state as the favorite than Kerry supporters. Among least favorite states, partisan differences were obvious as Kerry supporters picked Bush's home state (Texas) as their least favorite, while Bush supporters picked Kerry's home state (Massachusetts) as theirs. Note that many Kerry and Bush supporters were very strong supporters as this survey was heavily solicited on partisan blog sites, like http://www.dailykos.com (Democratic) and http://www.freerepublic.com (Republican).

People who had been in or traveled to Connecticut (and New England in general) were most likely to be Kerry supporters relative to Bush supporters, while people who had been in or traveled to Arkansas were most likely to be Bush supporters relative to Kerry supporters. The South and the Great Plains were most likely to be visited by Bush versus Kerry supporters. These differences were partly due to the fact that Kerry supporters were more likely to live in the Northeast (and thus nearby states would get more nearby Kerry voters) while Bush supporters were more likely to live in the South and the Great Plains.

However, the 2 non-contiguous states, Hawaii and Alaska (which wouldn't get travelers from nearby states), attracted different sorts of tourists as Hawaii attracted significantly more Bush supporters (almost on par with Arkansas), despite Hawaii residents supporting Kerry in polls, while Alaska attracted slightly more Kerry than Bush supporters, despite Alaska residents supporting Bush in polls.

Now...for the data...

FAVORITE COUNTRIES FOR KERRY SUPPORTERS

1. United States (29)
2. Italy (10)
3. Ireland (8)
4. France (7)
4. New Zealand (7)
6. United Kingdom (5)
7. Canada (4)
8. Australia (3)
8. Japan (3)
8. Netherlands (3)
8. Spain (3)

FAVORITE COUNTRIES FOR BUSH SUPPORTERS

1. United States (87)
2. Ireland (3)

No other response got more than 2 votes.

Among people who supported another candidate or are undecided, the United States was #1 and Switzerland was #2.

LEAST FAVORITE COUNTRIES FOR KERRY SUPPORTERS

1. Saudi Arabia (21)
2. North Korea (9)
3. Sudan (7)
4. China (4)
5. Afghanistan (3)
5. Iran (3)
5. Israel (3)
5. Serbia & Montenegro (3)

LEAST FAVORITE COUNTRIES FOR BUSH SUPPORTERS

1. France (35)
2. North Korea (12)
3. Iran (8)
3. China (8)
5. Sudan (5)
6. Mexico (4)
7. Haiti (3)
7. Russia (3)
7. Syria (3)

Among people who supported another candidate or were undecided, North Korea was #1.

FAVORITE STATES FOR KERRY SUPPORTERS

1. California (25)
2. New York (9)
3. Washington (6)
3. Massachusetts (6)
5. Vermont (5)
6. Colorado (4)
6. Maryland (4)
6. Pennsylvania (4)
9. Florida (3)
9. Maine (3)
9. Michigan (3)
9. Montana (3)
9. New Jersey (3)
9. North Carolina (3)
9. Texas (3)

32% of the time, Kerry supporters picked their own state as their favorite.

FAVORITE STATES FOR BUSH SUPPORTERS

1. Florida (14)
1. Texas (14)
3. California (7)
3. North Carolina (5)
3. Virginia (5)
6. New York (4)
6. Ohio (4)
6. Utah (4)
6. Wisconsin (4)
6. Wyoming (4)

47% of the time, Bush supporters picked their own state as their favorite.

LEAST FAVORITE STATES FOR KERRY SUPPORTERS

1. Texas (30)
2. Mississippi (14)
3. Florida (10)
4. Alabama (8)
4. Utah (8)
6. Kansas (4)
6. New Jersey (4)
6. Oklahoma (4)
6. South Carolina (4)

LEAST FAVORITE STATES FOR BUSH SUPPORTERS

1. Massachusetts (25)
2. California (12)
2. District of Columbia (12)
4. New York (8)
5. New Jersey (7)
6. Arkansas (5)
7. Illinois (3)
7. New Mexico (3)

KERRY SUPPORTERS VERSUS BUSH SUPPORTERS WHO HAVE BEEN TO THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES:

Only countries (and dependencies) with at least 11 responses are listed below. Note that no Sub-Saharan African countries had at least 11 responses, but among people who have traveled to one or more of those countries, 7 were for Kerry, and 7 were for Bush.

Note that of the 113 Kerry and 110 Bush respondents, the Kerry respondents had been to an average of 13 countries, while the Bush respondents had been to an average of 12 countries.

COUNTRY

Aruba
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Barbados
Belgium
Bermuda
Brazil
British Virgin Is.
Canada
Cayman Islands
China
Costa Rica
Czech Rep.
Denmark
Egypt
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Korea (South)
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Martinique
Mexico
Monaco
Morocco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Panama
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Russia
Singapore
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
United Kingdom
Vatican City

PRO-KERRY
VISITORS
5
13
37
20
5
36
4
7
8
87
5
13
7
18
22
8
10
63
53
17
10
16
12
9
7
21
7
55
7
27
8
6
16
10
4
63
7
7
34
10
13
4
7
12
14
9
17
32
15
38
6
21
15
67
28

PRO-BUSH
VISITORS
13
9
24
24
10
15
17
8
21
72
17
12
7
10
14
6
8
41
41
21
11
8
9
6
4
25
8
35
22
25
7
11
13
7
7
61
10
9
21
4
9
8
13
9
9
9
10
22
13
24
6
13
11
45
18

KERRY SUPPORTERS VERSUS BUSH SUPPORTERS WHO HAVE BEEN TO THE FOLLOWING STATES:

Note that of the 113 Kerry and 110 Bush respondents, the Kerry respondents had been to an average of 25 states (inc. related territories/etc. like the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico), while the Bush respondents had been to an average of 27.

STATE

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Dist. of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Guam
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
U.S. Virgin Is.
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

PRO-KERRY
VISITORS
45
19
76
35
94
77
71
62
91
88
71
5
30
40
80
59
52
44
56
52
50
84
83
63
53
38
57
37
37
68
58
84
58
101
69
22
77
41
49
87
17
59
63
32
62
68
13
55
59
86
63
61
56
42

PRO-BUSH
VISITORS
65
17
70
59
93
83
41
52
81
93
81
6
48
41
79
60
56
60
68
63
40
75
59
58
48
58
73
43
50
70
43
71
64
85
77
30
67
55
41
84
24
40
68
45
77
86
23
56
35
83
48
62
43
48

This survey was conducted between August 30 and October 3, 2004 by visitors to http://www.geographylists.com. Solicitations for the survey were made at several travel and political websites and newsgroups. Among U.S. citizens, 113 respondents were for Kerry, while 110 respondents were for Bush (this actually says nothing of the general population since attempts were made to get both Kerry and Bush supporters and have the numbers be fairly even). 17 respondents either were for a candidate other than Kerry or Bush or were undecided.

Only U.S. citizens were used (some non-citizens who live outside of the U.S. responded; they were mostly for Kerry).

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