My thoughts as well. There was certainly some correlation to state … MN, MA, a few other blue states (including CA) vs. some of the deep south states make for good places to pin opposite ends of the spectrum, but for many cases I think they were a little unexpected.

I didn’t put this in the blog post because it was too rough, but here’s the raw data, my notes as I watched the video:

Alabama: I do not believe it and it should not be taught in schools

Alaska: I do not believe in it but it should be taught in schools (as a Western belief system)

Arizona: Yes, give people both sides of the story

Arkansas: I was not taught it in school. Yes, it should be taught in schools if the school wants to.

Califonria; I was taught it. I’m a huge science geek. Yes, it syould be taught

Colorado: Yes, let the students decide what to believe in.

Conn: Yes

Delaware: Yes, but esp high school, and as a contrast to parent’s belief to give students choice.

DC: Yes, to see difference in perspective and choose

Florida: Yes.

Georgia: Yes, but also the biblical version as well, choose

Hawaii: Yes, creatonis is already out there, evolution should be included.

Idaho: It should be mentioned but not pushed. (Knowleged) as an option . choose

Illinois: Yes.

Indiana: Let the government decide. It’s their job.

Iowa: Yes, as an elective

Kansas: Yes, as an elective

Kentucky: You can never have to omuch knowlet but it’s complex so no. It’s a minor belief system

Louisiana: Yes.

Maine: Yes, along with faith, chose.

Maryland: Yes, teach all of the different theories. chosie

Massachusetts: Yes. ONe of many vies, all should be taught choise

Michigan Yes, both sides.

Minnesota: Yes, and it does not conflict with religion, choice

Missippi: Yes, as one theory

Missouri: If it is, as a choice.

MOntana: Yes, as an option. both sides

Nebraska: In public school, give all credible theories thus creatoi and evolution yes

Nevada: Yes, everything evolves. Nevada evolves.

Hew Hampshire: Yes, as one point of view.

New Jersey, yes, as an option

New Mexico: Yes, i’ts good science.

New York: Yes, as well as religion.

North Carolina: I don’t belive in evolution but yes, as an option.

Miss NOth Dakota: Yes. Both sides.

Ohio: Yes. As an option

Oklahoma: Yes. As one of the versions

Oregon: Yes, as one of the versions

Pennsylvania: Yes, as one of the theries

Rhode Island: Yes, as one of the theories

South Carolina: Yes, as an option

South Dakata: Yes, but don’ts tep on the bible

Tennessee: I don’t belive in it but yes, as one idea

Texas: Yes The school should decie

Utah: Yes, as a belief system

Vermont: Yes, Science is important

Virginia: Yes, some of it as a theory, as an option.

Washington: Yes, it’s science, facts. NOt theories

West virginia: Yes, but keep religion in

Wisconsin: Yes, it’s a great subject

Wyoming: Yes, both, choice

Each contestant is:

a) a product of her own culture, so more likely to be a creationist if born deep in the Red State territory and vice versa,

b) appealing to her home audience by stressing the part of the answer that she thinks would be more comfortable to the majority of people in her state, and

c) appealing to the judges as representatives of the “big, evil world that is out to get us”, i.e., a contestant from a very fundamentalist state may have the impression that the rest of the world is all elitist evolutionists, while a contestant from a big, liberal urban area may have the impression that the whole rest of the country are backward creationists. So they hedge their bets accordingly.

But overall you are obviously correct. The idea is to see how they perform, not what their opinion is.

One answer that would have killed all the other answers, though also wrong, would have been: “Evolution? That we descended from apes? Let us hope it is not true, but if it is, let us hope it will not be generally known!”