I don't think it was until the 2000 election that the major networks all toggled the colors. Democrats, prior to that time, had been red, and the Republicans, blue... I think it had a lot to do with the fact that in most countries the Socialist/Communist/Progressive/Democratic/Labour parties are usually identified with red. I think there was a very deliberate attempt to disassociate the Democratic Party in the USA from the color red in 2000 and subsequently this year, for the purpose of obfuscating it's very real association with said parties globally. I don't think it's in their interest for people here in America to make the connection.
Absolutely... Republicans have always been True-Blue since the north wore blue uniforms in the Civil War and the RATS were always COMMIE-RED, and hated it, so in 2000 they glommed onto blue knowing full we would NEVER be accused of being commies where it was KILLING them!!!I made the connection, and I've complained more than once that we are the red voters.