What amazes me is 2004, how he was able to pull together Iowa, Nevada, Colorado, and New Mexico. Eight years later, I'd be surprised to see a Republican take that. Why can't we return to the good ol' days!?
Take a look at demographic changes in those states. The Upper Mississippi is an interesting case. Hard to say if 2008 was an ethanol fueled aberration or what.
Guessing you mean immigration and the growth of Hispanics. It'd be tolerable if it looked like we were compensating in a different region (Rust Belt, anyone?) but it doesn't even look like that's happening. If the GOP does win in 2012, it'll be a miracle, numbers-wise. I think we'd have to take another loss just so we're able to sit back and see where we are, and how we can move forward. Republican incumbency would just pro-long the nightmare.
