In Aus we don't really have the same sort of distinction between the states, such as liberals(what we call the conservative party here), or labour (what we call the socialist party).

We have a liberal state government, at the moment, but they aren't doing very well, so it would not surprise me, if we again had a labour government at the next election. Rural areas here, tend to be more conservative, but that is changing, with the greens getting a very big vote increase at the last election. Many people are becoming very disenchanted with both the major parties.

The greens now have quite a bit of power, which I think is a very good thing.

We have a labour federal government at the moment too, and I believe that this government will be given another term. The liberal party is in a bit of a mess at the moment, the leader Tony Abbott, (or the mad monk as he is commonly known as), is an ultra right winger, and very religious, which doesn't play well in this very secular country. If the liberal party want any chance at another election, in my opinion, they need to get rid of Abbott.

In the US, do the wealthier states tend to be conservative?

spud

Well, I grew up in the South but moved to NYC many years ago and don't regret it a bit.