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The Solid South began to break down in the 1964 election, when five southern states voted for Republican Barry Goldwater. The largest and President Johnson's homestate, Texas, remained Democratic. In 1968, Richard Nixon carried Texas, Florida, and the Carolinas, while and Independent George Wallace still carried the rest. Former Democratic Gov. George Wallace commenting on his 1968 Presidential bid declared, by using a base of electoral votes in the Solid South <ref>[http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/1968ec.gif 1968 Electoral Distribution]</ref> and adding a few Northern and Midwestern industrial belt states could accumulate enough electoral votes to win.  The strategy was repeated 8 years later by Democratic contender Jimmy Carter effectively. <ref>[http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/1976ec.gif 1976 Electoral Distribution].</ref>  Since the 1972 election, candidates Richard Nixon (1972), Jimmy Carter (1976), Ronald Reagan (1984), George H.W. Bush (1988), and George W. Bush (2000 and 2004) carried every Southern state with the exception of 1980 President Jimmy Carter carried his home state of Georgia. Bill Clinton carried Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia in 1992, but lost Georgia in 1996.<http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/>

The Solid South began to break down in the 1964 election, when five southern states voted for Republican Barry Goldwater. The largest and President Johnson's homestate, Texas, remained Democratic. In 1968, Richard Nixon carried Texas, Florida, and the Carolinas, while and Independent George Wallace still carried the rest. Former Democratic Gov. George Wallace commenting on his 1968 Presidential bid declared, by using a base of electoral votes in the Solid South <ref>[http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/1968ec.gif 1968 Electoral Distribution]</ref> and adding a few Northern and Midwestern industrial belt states could accumulate enough electoral votes to win.  The strategy was repeated 8 years later by Democratic contender Jimmy Carter effectively. <ref>[http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/1976ec.gif 1976 Electoral Distribution].</ref>  Since the 1972 election, candidates Richard Nixon (1972), Jimmy Carter (1976), Ronald Reagan (1984), George H.W. Bush (1988), and George W. Bush (2000 and 2004) carried every Southern state with the exception of 1980 President Jimmy Carter carried his home state of Georgia. Bill Clinton carried Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia in 1992, but lost Georgia in 1996.<http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/>

Large numbers of Southerners have served in the U.S. military. During the Civil War  southerners did not volunteer in large numbers.  Approximately twenty percent of all Confederate soldiers were draftees (compared to eight percent in the Union armies), and they were subject to “compulsory reenlistment.”<Tinadall & Shi, America: A Narrative History, 7th ed.(New York Norton, 2007):616-618.>

Large numbers of Southerners have served in the U.S. military. During the Civil War  southerners did not volunteer in large numbers.  Approximately twenty percent of all Confederate soldiers were draftees (compared to eight percent in the Union armies), and they were subject to “compulsory reenlistment.”<Tinadall & Shi, America: A Narrative History, 7th ed.(New York Norton, 2007):616-618.>

The South also tends to lag behind the rest of the nation academically. Reading and math scores of students in the region are somewhat slightly below national averages. <http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/states/>

The South also tends to lag behind the rest of the nation academically. Reading and math scores of students in the region are somewhat slightly below national averages. <http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/states/>

Democratic [[Senator John Kerry]], the party's 2004 Presidential nominee, mocked Southerners and their tradition of military service during 2006 Midterm elections saying,

Democratic [[Senator John Kerry]], the party's 2004 Presidential nominee, [[mock]]ed Southerners and their tradition of military service during the 2006 Midterm elections saying,

 

{{Cquote|You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq. <ref>[http://www.airforcetimes.com/legacy/new/1-292925-2325787.php Blistering of Kerry for stuck in Iraq' remark continues] By Rick Maze, Military News ''Air Force Times'', November 01, 2006.</ref>}}  

{{Cquote|You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq. <ref>[http://www.airforcetimes.com/legacy/new/1-292925-2325787.php Blistering of Kerry for stuck in Iraq' remark continues] By Rick Maze, Military News ''Air Force Times'', November 01, 2006.</ref>}}  

The incident is widely believed to have killed any hope for Kerry to run as a viable Presidential candidate in 2008, or ever again.

The incident is widely believed to have killed any hope for Kerry to run as a viable Presidential candidate in 2008, or ever again.

==References==

==References==

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