cash-for-clunkers benefited blue states (much) more

From Peter Urban in USA Today (hat tip: Linda Christiansen)...

The Democrat-driven Cash for Clunkers program [was] a bigger boon for blue states than red.

Eight of the top 10 states taking advantage of the rebate program voted for Barack Obama in 2008, while seven of the bottom 10 backed Republican John McCain, according to a Gannett state-by-state analysis of rebates per licensed driver....The 28 states Obama won in 2008 have requested nearly $2.13 billion in rebates, or $15.12 per licensed driver. The 22 states that voted for McCain have requested $757 million, or $12.17 per driver.

Minnesota, where car dealers have requested nearly $73.2 million in rebates, led the way in Clunker participation with a per-driver request of $23.70. Wyoming, where a little more than $2.5 million in rebates has been requested, participated least — $6.43 per licensed driver.

The finding was puzzling for political analysts and car dealers contacted for this article, who suggest that interest in the program varied for a lot of reasons....an interest in the environment...auto dealers being hungrier for sales in some states than in others.

It may also be a function of ideology-- those in red states being less able to stomach the program, despite its potential financial benefits to them.