A little more context of the 6th district
. . .
I think it is extremely weak minded of the press (as usual) to take one or two data points and extrapolate that the district leans heavily Republican when it is clearly not the case.
It also puts into context exactly how significant the spending was this time around. All the "statistics" out of context are just obfuscating reality.
Shenanigans. Arguing that this district doesn't lean Republican is nonsense.
1) Using your data- in the past 4 Congressional races in this district, the Republican won by an average of 30 points
2) There has not been a Democrat representing the district since Carter was in the White House.
3) Since 2000, The Republican presidential candidate has won the district by more than 25 points each time (with the exception of Trump, who won by 1)
4) Republicans have an advantage in voter registration
5) The basic demographics of the district would indicate a Republican advantage
6) The Cook Partisan Index has this district basically as safe of a Republic District as Tulsa or OKC is, without the districts dislike of Trump it would exceed our Republican lean
7) The Republican legislature of Georgia got to draw the district map in 2011... I'm guessing they didn't choose to make it less likely they would win
8 ) The Republican President of the United States got to choose who he tapped to HHS... I'm guessing he didn't choose someone in an at-risk district
9) Excluding Trump's poor showing, there has not been a trend towards a growing Democratic base in the district
To really drive the point home, a Republican has won this district in each of the following elections:
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
1999
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
and now 2017.There are no gaps in there where a Democrat snuck in.
The only reason this district was in play is because in the last Presidential election Trump carried it by only 1 point (Obama lost both times by > 20 points, Kerry lost by 40 points, Gore lost by 34 points). The ONLY measure that indicates this district is anything but solid Republican is the lack of enthusiasm for Trump. The Democrats hoped voters dislike of Trump could be translated into taking over a solid Republican district. It turns out that dislike was only good for an extra 25 or so points in the poll, so they still lost. They tried so very hard that the loss is a real slap to the face for them too.
Still, the attempt to spin this district as anything but GOP territory is either disingenuous or blind.