Forget about the deep south, focus on the southwest

[ArtVandaley]

Bush won New Mexico 50%-49%. 5 electoral votes.
Bush won Nevada 51%-48%. 5 electoral votes.
Bush won Colorado 52%-47%. 9 electoral votes.
Bush won Arizona 55%-44%. 10 electoral votes.
Kerry didn't come within 15% of Bush in Georgia, Lousiana, South Carolina, or Tennessee, he didn't come within 20% of Bush in Mississippi, Alambama, and Kentucky,he was 11 points behind in North Carolina, his running mate's home state,and he was 9 points back in Arkansas and Virginia.
Why do we think we have shot at winning in the south, regardless of who we run? The southwest is where the next potenital blue states are, especially because of the rising hispanic population. I think if we run Bill Richardson in 2008, we have a chance of sweeping the region, giving us a win regardless of how Ohio and Florida vote.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

1. Are you looking for a latex salesman?

:7

[ArtVandaley]

5. Actually I'm an importer/exporter

haha

[havocmom]

2. There ya go! The DEM leadership HAS to stop writing off the southwest!

Get Deaniacs involved in a bit more grassroots developement and watch it grow!

[Indiana_Dem]

3. You might have something there.

Add all the growing Hispanic vote. Also, the retirees in Arizona will continue to see their Medicare and Social Security shrink in the future.

[zuzus petals]

4. Richardson sounds good to me....

The Northeast will support a Democratic candidate despite where he/she is from (unlike the yayhoos in my back yard of TN). Plus, Richardson is Hispanic (they went 40+% for the Chimperor this time). AND...he's a Governor, so he has "executive" experience.

So, if we can garner every state we got this year, plus NM and Arizona, we'll win. And choosing my guy, Wes Clark as Veep will put Arkansas in play. As far as the rest of the South...screw em.