Two blue states only ones that lost population in 2006

The demographic trends continue to work against the states that vote Democratic in presidential elections.

Two states lost population last year, deep-blue Rhode Island and not-as-blue Michigan.

Both states are known for their high taxes and burdensome regulation, which serve as an impediment to population growth. Rhode Island is a notoriously politically-corrupt state--which can't help matters for the Ocean State.

The ten states with the highest population increase last year voted were carried by George W. Bush in the 2000 and 2004 elections. Nevada and Arizona were first and second in growth.

From AP

Besides Nevada and Arizona, other Western states that made the top 10 list for fastest growth were Utah (third), Idaho (fourth), Colorado (eighth) and Wyoming (ninth).

In the Southeast, Georgia was fifth nationally, North Carolina was sixth, and South Carolina was 10th.

Texas was seventh.

True it's just one year of data, and it won't effect next year's elections, but people are voting with their feet--and away from the Democratic Party's geographic base.

Technorati tags: politics Election Democrats Rhode Island census Michigan