What's the big deal about Northern vs Southern candidates?

[aopinthesky]

Originally posted by twhrider13
The South, as a rule, however, generally does vote Republican (not just referring to presidential elections here, though).

While I believe this is generally true in your lifetime, it is a recent turn. Alabama has only had 4 Republican Governors out of 52. The first one was elected in 1868 and there was not another one until Guy Hunt was elected in 1987. There have been two since Hunt including the present Governor. Historically, with the exception of the last 15-20 years, Alabama was overwhelmingly Democratic.