was 1976 the last election where

[Nichlemn]

Yes, there was greater variance in state-by-state results in 2004 than 1976, but I think that says a lot more about 1976 than it does about 2004. The default in US politics has been polarisation, 1976 is one of the outliers. Just take a look at pretty much every election from 1856 to 1972 - 1976 is a product of a slow regional realignment, where states are "crossing over" and hence will be competitive for a time.

[Nichlemn]

Yes, there was greater variance in state-by-state results in 2004 than 1976, but I think that says a lot more about 1976 than it does about 2004. The default in US politics has been polarisation, 1976 is one of the outliers. Just take a look at pretty much every election from 1856 to 1972 - 1976 is a product of a slow regional realignment, where states are "crossing over" and hence will be competitive for a time.

Are you sure ? Here is 1960 :

Nixon : 68
Kennedy : 61
Competitive : 408

It's in the same time period, in a period of realignment. (The South began to realign before the Civil Rights Act).