Blueberry in the Tomato Soup (Austin political nickname)

Austin has been called the “Blueberry in the Tomato Soup” of Texas. In other words, Texas is a red state (Republican), but Austin votes blue (Democrat). Ther term has been around since at least 2005 and probably originated in 2004.
 
 
Wikipedia: Austin, Texas
Austin is well known as a center for liberal politics in a generally conservative state, leading some Texas conservatives to deride the city as “The People’s Republic of Austin” or “the blueberry in the tomato soup.” Suburban neighborhoods in Austin, especially to the west and north, and several satellite municipalities, however, tend toward political conservatism.
       
Evworld Newswire
Major Plug-In Hybrid Incentive Program Initiated By Austin, TX
Source: unknown
[Mar 06, 2005] 
A staffer from the mayor’s office said the resolution is receiving broad support from the council members. Austin is known for its progressive policies in the largely conservative state. “We’re definitely the blueberry in the tomato sauce,” the staffer said.
 
Radical Writ
Monday, March 07, 2005
Through e-mail I’ve been corresponding with a fellow by the name of Jason Miller from Overland Park, Kansas. I think he found me through my column at The Oregon Herald. From time to time he sends me some pretty good op-eds, and it’s nice to know there’s another Blueberry in the Tomato Soup out there.       
 
In The Pink Texas
SomeoneElse
posted October 24th, 2005 at 1:46 pm
someone remind linda about the blueberry in the tomato soup thing.
   
Quick and to the pointless
Thursday, February 16, 2006
For the love of Austin
the following article is featured in this months Tx Monthly magazine and is worth a post.
(...)
So what is it that makes Austin so different from the rest of the state? Why, as some have said, is it the blueberry in the tomato soup? A short answer is the university.
     
Eclectic Chick - MOG
Vital Signs
Mogger Since:
August 01, 2006
Age:
36
Favorite Ice Cream:
Neopolitan Dynamite
Favorite color of Chuck T’s :
Red
Domicile location:
the ATX - “Blueberry in the Tomato Soup of Texas”
   
GoodLife (December 2006)
Austin has been called “The Blueberry in the Tomato Soup,” (Hey, it’s better than “The People’s Republic of Austin”) and the November elections bore that out. 
 
My Climate Project
Thursday, January 4, 2007
he welcomed the mayor of austin, who is one of our “session-mates”, and said he’s heard that “austin is a beautiful blueberry sittin’ in a bowl of tomato soup.”