The Nifty Fifty House Party - Part XXXVII: Delaware

The Bullet Train to November is now pulling out of the sands of New Mexico and speeding back to the East Coast to a state that is number one in one aspect, for one historic reason...

DELAWARE

That's right, The First State, the very first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787. It is a tiny state: 45th in population, but sixth in density with 60% situated in New Castle County, home to Wilmington. The state's economy has historically been linked to E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, one of the largest chemical companies in the world. But the company that put the du Pont family on the map is only part of what is usually an above-average economy for Delaware, where over half of publicly-traded U.S. corporations and three-fifths of Fortune 500 companies are incorporated due to its pro-business legal climate; other sectors besides chemicals include pharmaceuticals, banking, chicken farming, dairy, and auto manufacturing. Traditionally, Delaware has been seen as a bellwether in presidential elections, but 2000 and 2004 turned out to be deviations from the normal as Al Gore and John Kerry won the state while George W. Bush won twice nationally. This year, Barack Obama is expected to carry Delaware with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joe Biden (who is also heavily favored for reelection to the Senate if Obama loses) as his running mate. As for its only congressional seat, it is a different story.

At-Large (S-Factor 6.5 DEM): Despite what the S-Factor suggests, Biden on the ballot twice, and a bad GOP stew, centrist Republican Mike Castle is in no trouble whatsoever against children's rights advocate Karen Hartley-Nagle. Prediction: Solid GOP.

Next stop: North Dakota.