bredesen/easley vs. pawlenty/gregg?

[TomC]

how would this race shape up between two southern governors and two northern republicans, tim pawlenty and judd gregg.

i think the bredesen/easley ticket would be a very strong one.




some states could go either way:
virginia
wva
kentucky
florida
oregon
nevada
pennsylvania

I don't see the Dems doing that well in the South and losing ground in the North. This map assumes too much about home states and not enough about the party's bases.

[TomC]

Also, I'll add that while Bredesen has become more folksy and improved his southern accent, he's no hick or good ole boy. He's a savvy millionaire businessman who happens to be a big time moderate. He's not Clinton or Carter. He could and would appeal to mainstream Dems all over (in the general).

He happens to be in a very good position, approval rating wise because:

He has staked his entire first term on being fiscally responsible and not even considering a tax increase. This comes after a Republican governor who, according to republicans, betrayed the party by pushing an income tax and then supporting a sales tax increase when that failed. So Repubs are happy because they've got someone that acts more republican (on tax and spend) and the Dems are happy (although its fading a little) because they thought they might never win a statewide race in Tennessee again. And Bredesen's good on education. But I'm not sure his popularity translates into strength in other Southern states in the way this map implies.