VA and NC look like they are up for grabs

[mot78]

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/Virginia%20Jun%204.htm

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/North%20Carolina%20Jun%203.htm

And the idea that they are both safe Repug states is BS. Look at the '92 and '96 returns, courtesy of this website:

http://www.mockelection.org/electionmap/

NC in '92:
Clinton 42.7

Bush Sr. 43.4

Perot 13.7

NC in '96 (which should be more seriously considered than '92 due to Perot):

Clinton: 44

Dole: 48.7


VA in '92:
Clinton: 40.6

Bush Sr. 45

Perot: 13.6

VA in '96 (again, more noteworthy than '92 due to Perot getting less votes):
Clinton: 45.1

Dole: 47.1

[yankees_suck]

1. They very well could be...

Both states have Dem governors, and supposedly Kerry is putting some serious cash into VA. They should be fun states to watch in the upcoming months...

[mot78]

2. Tennesse and Arkansas could lean that way was well

Although those states are more reliably Dem (Gore only narrowly lost TN and AR in 2000)

[lastknowngood]

3. Reality check. NO red states are going blue. A few blue states

ARE going red and the "battleground states" are all controlled by diebold, get it. Spend your time trying to limit our losses in the house to 25 or less and our losses in the senate to 10 or less then if elections are still in effect at the next election cycle maybe we can gain power over one branch of the government. I'm not trying to rain on your parade but let's get real and work for realistic goals.

[mot78]

4. No need for pessimism

*'s approval ratings are plummeting and the battleground states are kind of overlapping now. Most EC composite websites show Kerry with a narrow lead overall in the swing states.

[Zynx]

5. That's a bunch of pessismistic bunk.

[arcos]

6. the Dems would NEVER lose 10 Senate seats in November...

I think the worst case scenario is losing 5 seats. And that would mean losing open seats in LA, FL, GA, SC, and NC, and not winning anything in other races (Democrats are running strongly in IL, OK, AK, seats all held by Repugs, and surprises in PA and OH are possible). Interestingly enough, Democrats are running strongly in LA, FL, SC and NC too. If Kerry wins by a slightly confortable margin, the Dems may very well gain 6 seats or more. This of course, assuming Diebold doesn't help the GOP. :P

[Zynx]

7. Both VA and NC can be had.

That's 28 electoral votes that Bush NEEDS. It's worth our time to take them away.

[mot78]

8. The weird thing about Election 2004 is a red PA and a blue VA and NC

The last time that was the Electoral norm was in the days of the Dixiecrats.