--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The closely divided presidential election…" description: "\"The closely divided presidential election of 2000 - in which George W. Bush defeated Al Gore by the slimmest of margins in Florida - forever implanted ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/552/patrick-murphy-19388_blue_the-closely-divided-presidential-electio_1911031.jpg" --- # The closely divided presidential election of 2000 - in… ![“The closely divided presidential election of 2000 - in which George W. Bush defeated Al Gore by the slimmest of margins in Florida - forever implanted the divide between red states and blue states in our political consciousness.” quote by Patrick Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/552/patrick-murphy-19388_blue_the-closely-divided-presidential-electio_1911031.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/552/patrick-murphy-19388_blue_the-closely-divided-presidential-electio_1911031.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/552/patrick-murphy-19388_blue_the-closely-divided-presidential-electio_1911031.jpg) > “The closely divided presidential election of 2000 - in which George W. Bush defeated Al Gore by the slimmest of margins in Florida - forever implanted the divide between red states and blue states in our political consciousness.” [Patrick Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-murphy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The 2000 election’s narrow Florida result cemented the red‑blue state divide in U.S. politics. **In simple terms:** 2000 election deepened partisan geographic split. Key Takeaway Understand how close elections shape long‑term political landscapes. Themes politics elections polarization Mood reflective critical Type historical analytical When to use this quote - campaign strategy - voter outreach - policy debates Key Concepts regional voting patterns partisan identity electoral impact Questions to Reflect On - How might future elections reduce polarization? - What factors reinforced the red‑blue split? A Different Perspective Division can hinder cooperation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blue/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) ## Related quotes > [I ALWAYS HAVE DONE WELL HOWEVER IN BLUE STATES AND RED STATES. IVE NEVER REALLY ALIGNED MYSELF WITH ALL THAT RED STATE BLUE STATE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-the-cable-guy/i-always-have-done-well-however-in-blue-states-and-red-states-ive/) [Larry the Cable Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-the-cable-guy/) > [We remain more than a collection of red states and blue states. We are and forever will be the United States of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-remain-more-than-a-collection-of-red-states-and-blue-states-we-are/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the Red States. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-worship-an-awesome-god-in-the-blue-states-and-we-don-t-like/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“Symptomatic of this rural-urban identity crisis is our eager embrace of a recently imposed divide: the Red States and the Blue States. That color…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/symptomatic-of-this-rural-urban-identity-crisis-is-our-eager-embrace/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [People in red states and blue states can agree that we are a nation blessed with extraordinary natural wealth and beauty, which we would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/people-in-red-states-and-blue-states-can-agree-that-we-are-a-nation/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [You know, boy, America is a closely divided country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kaine/you-know-boy-america-is-a-closely-divided-country/) [Tim Kaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kaine/) > [The truth is that America has been closely divided politically for quite some time. That was reflected in some of the challenges I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-truth-is-that-america-has-been-closely-divided-politically-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The blue states we were able to turn red and basically haven't been red since Ronald Reagan. I think ObamaCare was the bigger hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/the-blue-states-we-were-able-to-turn-red-and-basically-haven-t-been/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [Under the Trump tax plan, we are no longer going to subsidize big government in blue states. Now those who choose to live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moore/under-the-trump-tax-plan-we-are-no-longer-going-to-subsidize-big/) [Stephen Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moore/) > [Liberals in blue states working in blue enclaves within blue cities that are producing the media, don't even see that their positions fit on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-breitbart/liberals-in-blue-states-working-in-blue-enclaves-within-blue-cities/) [Andrew Breitbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-breitbart/) > [“They were braving the worst of an industrial system, the fruits of which liberals enjoyed from a distance in their highly regulated and cleaner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/they-were-braving-the-worst-of-an-industrial-system-the-fruits-of/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [We no longer have a significant middle class in the US due to Barack Obama's job-killing ban on oil drilling in Zion Park. While…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cohn/we-no-longer-have-a-significant-middle-class-in-the-us-due-to-barack/) [Gary Cohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cohn/) > [President Bush says he now wants to simplify the tax code. Only those in the blue states will pay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/president-bush-says-he-now-wants-to-simplify-the-tax-code-only-those/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [Liberals in blue states just think that they are on the right side of history, and anybody that disagrees with them has to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-breitbart/liberals-in-blue-states-just-think-that-they-are-on-the-right-side-of/) [Andrew Breitbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-breitbart/) > [One difficulty in making the Senate work the way it was intended is that America's electorate is increasingly divided into red and blue states,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-snowe/one-difficulty-in-making-the-senate-work-the-way-it-was-intended-is/) [Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) ## More by Patrick Murphy > [Whether it's threats to Medicare, cuts in education spending, or Internet privacy, the ramifications got young people out to vote and should be enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-murphy/whether-it-s-threats-to-medicare-cuts-in-education-spending-or/) [Patrick Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-murphy/) > [As the country's third-largest state by population, Florida is the crown jewel in the Electoral College among swing states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-murphy/as-the-country-s-third-largest-state-by-population-florida-is-the/) [Patrick Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-murphy/) > [I don't think 'my way or the highway' works, that mentality. And that's what the Tea Party has done: drawn a line in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-murphy/i-don-t-think-my-way-or-the-highway-works-that-mentality-and-that-s/) [Patrick Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-murphy/) > [What will be the final straw that finally forces Congress to at least open up formal debate - let alone introduce a bill, pass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-murphy/what-will-be-the-final-straw-that-finally-forces-congress-to-at-least/) [Patrick Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-murphy/) > [We must maintain strong building codes, strengthen flood insurance programs, and forcefully acknowledge the reality that rising sea temperatures caused by made-man climate change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-murphy/we-must-maintain-strong-building-codes-strengthen-flood-insurance/) [Patrick Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-murphy/) > [No matter which party is in the White House, doubt in America's democratic institutions rattles our nation to its core. This should not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-murphy/no-matter-which-party-is-in-the-white-house-doubt-in-america-s/) [Patrick Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-murphy/) > [I worked as a day laborer throughout college, worked for Deloitte and Touche, got my CPA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-murphy/i-worked-as-a-day-laborer-throughout-college-worked-for-deloitte-and/) [Patrick Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-murphy/) > [Politically speaking, Miami-Dade was once a Republican stronghold, thanks in large part to older Cuban voters who became more politically influential following the Bay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-murphy/politically-speaking-miami-dade-was-once-a-republican-stronghold/) [Patrick Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-murphy/) > [The Tea Party movement went off on a more extreme agenda that I did not support at all, and was very frustrated by it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-murphy/the-tea-party-movement-went-off-on-a-more-extreme-agenda-that-i-did/) [Patrick Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-murphy/) > [I got into politics because I was tired of complaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-murphy/i-got-into-politics-because-i-was-tired-of-complaining/) [Patrick Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-murphy/) > [In the 2016 U.S. Senate race, I was on the receiving end of more than $3 million in outside negative attacks funded by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-murphy/in-the-2016-u-s-senate-race-i-was-on-the-receiving-end-of-more-than-3/) [Patrick Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-murphy/) > [My dad's a Republican. My dad's my mentor. When I was 18 or whatever it was and I decided to register to vote. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-murphy/my-dad-s-a-republican-my-dad-s-my-mentor-when-i-was-18-or-whatever-it/) [Patrick Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-murphy/) > [I've grown up in a very diverse background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-murphy/i-ve-grown-up-in-a-very-diverse-background/) [Patrick Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-murphy/) > [As a 9-year-old child, I vividly remember the day Hurricane Andrew touched down in 1992. My family was living in the Upper Florida Keys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-murphy/as-a-9-year-old-child-i-vividly-remember-the-day-hurricane-andrew/) [Patrick Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-murphy/) > [My birth mom has certainly not lived a life of means in any stretch of the imagination, nor does she want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-murphy/my-birth-mom-has-certainly-not-lived-a-life-of-means-in-any-stretch/) [Patrick Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-murphy/) [Explore all 32 Patrick Murphy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-murphy/) ## More Blue quotes > [When I haven't any blue I use red.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/when-i-haven-t-any-blue-i-use-red/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [It is sometimes said that scientists are unromantic, that their passion to figure out robs the world of beauty and mystery. But is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-is-sometimes-said-that-scientists-are-unromantic-that-their/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [If you're white and you're wrong, then you're wrong; if you're black and you're wrong, you're wrong. People are people. Black, blue, pink, green…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/if-you-re-white-and-you-re-wrong-then-you-re-wrong-if-you-re-black/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) > [Memory revises me. Even now a letter comes from a place I don’t know, from someone with my name and postmarked years ago, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-young-lee/memory-revises-me-even-now-a-letter-comes-from-a-place-i-don-t-know/) [Li-Young Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-young-lee/) > [Human beings should stick together. Honestly, if I see a red-haired person with blue eyes now, I say, 'Is your granny black?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/human-beings-should-stick-together-honestly-if-i-see-a-red-haired/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [The Louvre! The Louvre has me in its clutches. Every time I'm there rich blessings rain down upon me. I am coming to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-modersohn-becker/the-louvre-the-louvre-has-me-in-its-clutches-every-time-i-m-there/) [Paula Modersohn-Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-modersohn-becker/) > [We live in a state with a wonderful climate and plenty of natural beauty, from the shores of Cumberland Island to the Chattahoochee River…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-barnes/we-live-in-a-state-with-a-wonderful-climate-and-plenty-of-natural/) [Roy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-barnes/) > [I had never done anything with blue screen before, or prosthetics, or anything like that. Lord of the Rings was like stepping into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-had-never-done-anything-with-blue-screen-before-or-prosthetics-or/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Mother, she likes the blue material just fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/mother-she-likes-the-blue-material-just-fine/) [Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/) > [You know, I'm the only one in this family who has no problems, . . . And you know why? Because any time I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-i-m-the-only-one-in-this-family-who-has-no-problems-and-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [it'll be this kind of deep blue”she said. “The kind of color that somehow sucks your eyes and your ears and all your words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banana-yoshimoto/it-ll-be-this-kind-of-deep-blue-she-said-the-kind-of-color-that/) [Banana Yoshimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banana-yoshimoto/) > [It is moonlight. Alone in the silence I ascend my stairs once more, While waves remote in pale blue starlight Crash on a white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-aiken/it-is-moonlight-alone-in-the-silence-i-ascend-my-stairs-once-more/) [Conrad Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-aiken/) > [The grape Hyacinth is the favorite spring flower of my garden - but no! I though a minute ago the Scilla was! and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-morse-earle/the-grape-hyacinth-is-the-favorite-spring-flower-of-my-garden-but-no/) [Alice Morse Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-morse-earle/) > [I swam with my first shark in the 1980s. I was 20 miles off the coast of Rhode Island, working with a group of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-skerry/i-swam-with-my-first-shark-in-the-1980s-i-was-20-miles-off-the-coast/) [Brian Skerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-skerry/) [Browse all 3,452 Blue quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blue/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The closely divided presidential election of 2000 - in which George W. 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