Here's where it stands today at Obama 301; McCain 224. Where else can we grow?

[Bucky]

Florida is probably doable. Is South Dakota something we can hope for? Should we dare to dream of taking Indiana?

[C_U_L8R]

1. I wonder about some of the Southern states

there may a tidal wave of new voters

[endthewar]

7. Hey! Stop being greedy!

:rofl:

On a serious note, I think that the Palin pick could help McCain on down-ballot candidates in Republican strongholds. While she doesn't have much appeal to independents, she will definitely bring out the bible-thumpers in full force.

[BlooInBloo]

19. Wouldn't count on much from the slave states....

We're making inroads in the west, but the homebase will escape us for the forseeable future. Amazing how well it matches up...

http://sensoryoverload.typepad.com/sensory_overload/2004/11/free_states_vs_.html

Slave states/free states:



2004 red/blue:



Current best projection:



EDIT: expanded a bit.

[tekisui]

2. NC!

NC has a 25% AA vote. Using 2004 voter turnout, and today's state demographic polls, Obama is at 52%. He can take NC, and has opened many offices here.

[blue_onyx]

16. Winning NC would be great. I think it's definitely possible

[TNMOM]

3. Tennesee? I hope -- that's where I live

I see a lot of Obama signs, but I live in Nashville. The rest of the state may take some convincing... I don't see any ads here so they may have written off Tennessee.

[nxylas]

6. Same in Columbia, SC

Lots of Obama signs/bumper stickers here too (and hardly any McCain ones), but the rest of the state may be a different story. Columbia is a college town with a large African-American population, and so is hardly typical of South Carolina as a whole.

[Bucky]

8. according to electoral-vote.com, McCain does better in TN than in Arizona

We have a better chance of brining Missouri or West Virginia back into the fold than taking Tennessee.

[kansasblue]

4. I was hoping Kansas would come around. so sorry.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Personally, I'd like to see Kansas, Ohio . . . , and Alaska go blue.

[Obamarulz11]

9. Were working our a$$ off here in Florida.

Biden has us fired up..We need Barack here in FL. It can swing anyday here, Also with Lil' Bush gone
especially the way he treated us here in FL. We need a change big time. Florida Civil Liberties unions are getting hands on with this election.

A southeastern Rundown

in Georgia, It all depends on Voter turnout in Atlanta.

In Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana (traditionally strong republican) it may change with Hurricane Ike. Youll never know!

I dont know about Arkansas and Tennessee

[Catch22Dem]

10. VA & FL

If we take either one, it's ballgame.

[NYC_SKP]

11. For payback, I want Ohio and Florida, aaaaaaand ALASKA!!!

Just for kicks!

:patriot:

[1corona4u]

12. I've said it before, I think Florida is very much in play....

from what I see here. I saw a truck the other day with a "republicans for Obama" sticker on it....and let me tell you, the guy was a redneck without question. So, if they are looking at Obama, I think it looks good!

[ITsec]

13. As a South Dakotan

Those of us with brains are doing what we can to swing it over Dem.

I haven't lost hope... yet.

[knixphan]

14. I'm headed from CA to NC

To help canvassing efforts there... Anyone wanna join?

[abburdlen]

25. where in NC?

[knixphan]

34. I'm headed to Charlotte

[WhiteTara]

15. we may get Colorado!

the elections chief just stepped down there over corruption charges!

[OmahaBlueDog]

17. Nebraska divides it's EVs by district

I think Obama should make a point to speak at UN-L, and see if he can fill up the Quest Center. He might be able to pick up NE-1, and he might also give Jim Esch a needed boost against Lee Terry (sorry, Kleeb is beyond hope right now).

[sfwriter]

22. Good idea... who else splits?

[OmahaBlueDog]

27. Maine, but I think we're a virtual lock to get all their EVs

[justiceischeap]

18. I think if the Jews for Jesus story starts circulating within the Jewish community, we can take FL

:)

[1corona4u]

23. I think they may already be onboard...

they know Joe is supportive of Israel.

[justiceischeap]

28. I also read a thread here today where a group of Rabbi's issued a press release to the media

About her ties to the JfJ.

It's almost like watching a train derail.

[abburdlen]

20. Most folks have made up their minds

Most have made up their minds at least on who they prefer, A big part of the election is going to be getting people to turn out on election day.

There are many people who will never vote Democratic - it just isn't in their blood. No matter how much the GOP screws them over they'd never consider voting for a Democrat.
But a lot of those people have no love for John McCain either. The Palin pick certainly helps McCain with the evangelical crowd but he risks losing reasonable moderates.

I think the best thing is to give those who would never vote for Obama and aren't really fans of McCain another option.
We should start touting the libertarian ticket to them. True they don't stand a chance of winning, but wouldn't it send a message to the GOP if a sizable chuck defected and voted for Barr? If the Liberatarians got close to 10% of the vote it would guarantee a landslide for Obama and might put a nail in the Religious Rights control of the GOP.

That's my $.02

[sfwriter]

21. Obama has the resources to push in all of them!

He will focus on Ohio, Indiana, Florida, VA, and NC, WV, MO and CO to be sure, but look at the SENATE map:



Focus on MN, MS, GA and NC could help us get a fillibuster-proof 60 seats in the Senate. GA and NC should be in line with his current plans, but he needs to share his coattails in MS and MN.

ALSO, every place he opens an office, for example opening FIVE in Alaska after Palin was named, every place forces McCain to spread himself thinner. So let me make the argument for South Carolina. It squeezes McCain where he should feel secure and it places pressure on a Senate race that the Republicans think is secure forcing both campaigns to spend less money elsewhere. It is a basic form of attrition.

Likewise, a couple of appearances in Oregon could boost turnout for our senate candidate there. If McCain doesn't fire up his base there, then the Republican candidate loses down ticket voters. Why bother voting when you know McCain will lose, eh?

Finally, Obama needs to shore up the margins in places that seem secured. Remember Ohio, the polls now have a cagey 2-3% bias for Democrats over what the machines will find. +3% margins make vote stealing harder.

[Phoonzang]

24. Has anyone looked at the 2004 electoral-vote.com maps?

They were a lot more erratic and all over the place. It's been much more stable this year. Also, the Montana was solid blue the day before the election.

[4_Legs_Good]

26. Add to this Florida, Virginia, North Carolina and Indiana

and I'll be satisfied, though I'd like one big southern state too, like Georgia.

David

[tosh]

33. Just my gut, cause I haven't really been "out there" talking much

but I think Georgia's very do-able. Sonny Perdue has ticked a LOT of people off and my feeling is that leaves the BIG MONEY pugs and the wing-nuts.

This has been on my mind, so I'll say it here in this thread because some of you seem to be "in the loop". (tia for letting me!)

On Thursday, I talked to a young woman who is a Reg. Republican but was a Hillary supporter. Said she grew up in a Rep. family but decided this year to learn more about the issues, become more informed, etc., had become a Hillary supporter and was now watching all of the speeches at all conventions.

Okay, to the point: What bugged her was that Hillary wasn't chosen as Obama's running mate. I presented my case as best I could (all unsubstantiated, and I told her this) on why I thought this happened and why I thought it was best for both Obama and Hillary. She listened thoughtfully and THANKED ME, said that made perfect sense. I got the impression that this question was the only thing that was keeping her from choosing Obama.

I really wish that this question could be addressed in some official way, though I realize that could/would be awkward and difficult. I think there are a LOT of Hillary supporters out there who really want this question answered. Any ideas on how this might happen?

[abumbyanyothername]

29. The most important state to take is AZ

We have got to drive a stake in their hearts and cause a whole, entire re-thinking of the party strategy over there. The end of the evangelicals.

For the good of the country.

Really.

Country first means we must take AZ.

More realistically -- VA, NC, GA and FL to establish a SE base.

[Frumious B]

30. Just win! That's all I ask.

My wife of two-plus months and I have been trying to decide whether or not we want to have children and the outcome of this election will be a big determining factor. We're both in our mid-thirties so the next 4-5 years are pretty much our chance at having a family if we want one. However, I sure as heck don't want my kid dying in WWIII or growing up in a theocracy or inheriting a nation that is pretty much ruined beyond all hope of rescue.

[Unsane]

31. Where was Kerry around this time in '04?

[TankLV]

32. Nevada - our registration is now about 60,000 more dems than idiots...

and I think that's just Clark County - but I could have heard it wrong...