Do we really need the South.. in order to win in 2008

[RethugAssKicker]

Becuase if we do, we're fucked... The south is never going to vote democratic.. The republicans have the south locked up completely!

Does anyone have any figures and or strategies to win without the South?

[atre]

1. No, not necessarily, but it will be exceedingly difficult without a couple

I really don't understand all the South-bashing here. The Democratic Party performs significantly better in the South than in the Midwestern states (where the candidate is lucky to break 30%).

[newsguyatl]

3. how is this south-bashing?

seems it's just opinion about how the south will vote -- and i pretty much agree with the sentiment...

[atre]

6. Obviously, you haven't been party to many such discusssions

... and I'm sorry to see that you agree with this guy.

[Lexingtonian]

2. nice flamebait

The electoral college math is not exactly beyond anyone who's been taught simple arithmetic, btw.

And 'forever' in politics can be a few years.

[WilliamPitt]

4. It is possible.

It is technically possible to win without taking any states in the South. It would require winning:

New England
New York
New Jersey
Maryland
Delaware
DC
Pennsylvania
Michigan
Illinois
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Oregon
Washington
California
New Mexico

...outright. Most of these are solid blue states, though Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Wisconsin are getting too close for comfort.

Any money potentially earmarked for Florida and other Southern states would need to be spent on:

West Virginia
Arkansas or Missouri or Iowa

...with special emphasios on OHIO.

This would bring an Electoral College win. The problem is the popular vote, and the securing of a mandate. Money would need to be spent on raising turnout in the southern states. If a Dem candidate could win between 40% and 45% in most of the southern states, this would be enough to secure a popular vote win.

I don't like the idea of a campaign strategy that ignores almost half the goddam country, nor do I like any plan that dismisses the south outright as a land of benightened boobs.

But you asked, and this is the answer.

[wuushew]

5. No

Gore + CO + NH

or Ohio + anything

[tsuki]

7. They will vote General Wesley Clark if he is in either spot. The man

strikes a chord down here. His talking points are simple and clear.