JMO, but I think the nationalization of politics over the last two decades has really "hidden" just how many moderates that are still out there (think people in VT who voted for Obama and against Sumlin, people in AR who voted for McCain and Romney but also for Beebe, etc.). When a race truly becomes localized, a moderate can absolutely still win in these kinds of states. There are really only a few states in the country that are SO partisan that they simply just don't really elect members of the other party hardly ever. Utah and Wyoming come to mind for the GOP, and Rhode Island and Delaware come to mind for the Democrats. IMO, states like VT, AR, ME, WV - states that used to vote loyally for the opposite party they tend to support now - really don't fall into that category, no matter how lopsided their Presidential vote can be.
Very true. I would argue that there is no such thing as a solidly "red" or "blue" state. Although many states are more favorable to one party, nearly any of them will vote for the other party under the right circumstances. There's no red or blue; just different shades of purple.
