A Possible Obama vs. Romney Map?

[KevinD]

All and all, it's not a bad prediction. A couple of things to consider:

In 2009 Republicans took firm control of Virginia state government. In fact every Republican running for statewide office garnered at least 60% of the vote. What's more, President Obama's poll numbers remain lackluster in the state. I think we can move it safely into the Republican column.

Ohio will be a fight (as per usual) but Republicans made historic gains in the industrial Midwest in 2010, winning Congressional, Senate, and Gubernatorial races in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. There's an obvious trend emerging here, potentially a realignment. If Mitt Romney wins the nomination, he stands a strong chance at taking Michigan (his native state which his father ran). What's more with high unemployment and low approval numbers, Ohio is starting look bad for the President. Even if he wins Pennsylvania (which I suspect he will) I don't see how he wins re-election without these two states.