As Maine goes, so goes Vermont

"As Maine goes, so goes Vermont" is a famous 1936 U.S. political joke by Democratic party boss James Farley.

Prior to the 1936 Presidential election, Maine was considered a bellweather state by political analysts. The state held its general election early in the fall, rather than in November, and in Presidential years this included the presidential election. The results in Maine generally were a good predictor of the national results; candidates even worked hard to win Maine for this reason, despite its low population. From this came a well-regarded political maxim at the time: "As Maine goes, so goes the country."

In 1936, however, Maine and Vermont were the only two states won by Republican Presidential nominee Alf Landon; he even lost his home state of Kansas to FDR. After the landslide victory, Democratic party chairman revised the "As Maine goes, so goes the country" saying to "As Maine goes, so goes Vermont," effectively ending that American political tradition.