More Serengeti Magic

Patrick points to the following:

According to Public Policy Polling (PPP), a North Carolina polling firm, only 24% of self-identified Republican voters in the state believe Barack Obama was born in the United States.  47% do not believe that Obama is American born, and 29% of Republicans aren't sure.

One part of PPP's data might reassure sentient readers somewhat:  7% of those who voted for John McCain do not believe Hawaii to be a part of the United States.  Now perhaps this is just another irrational expression of Obama hatred.  But, it may also be older voters who never quite absorbed the news that our 50th state is indeed our 50th state.

Sadly, even if the latter is the case, it doesn't explain very much.  Last November, Obama carried North Carolina by just 14,000 or so votes out of about 4.3 million cast, the second closest state contest in the nation after Missouri.  Each candidate received a shade over 49% with minor party candidates picking up the rest.  So 7% of the McCain vote is just 3.5% of the total state vote.  McCain received about 2.128 million votes.  3.5% of that is-back of the envelope about 74,000 votes.

I'm not even shocked, anymore.