Battle for the White House boils down to select states

[MaineDem]

President Bush versus John Kerry. What promises to be a contentious eight-month battle for the White House opened Wednesday with the incumbent buffeted by dangers in postwar Iraq and the loss of jobs at home, yet holding the upper hand on money and Electoral College math.

Partisans from both parties are already fretting over their candidate´s chances.

/snip/

If so, it may be settled in Florida and 15 states that Bush won or lost by 5 percentage points or fewer in 2000 _ the Midwest states of Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin; the Northwest´s Washington and Oregon; Pennsylvania, Maine and New Hampshire in the Northeast; Western states Nevada and New Mexico, and the South´s Tennessee and Arkansas.

Tennessee may be the only 2000 battleground that doesn´t qualify. If Al Gore couldn´t win his Republican-leaning home state, Kerry probably won´t, Democratic and GOP strategists said.

Two states Bush won by just 6 percentage points _ Arizona and West Virginia _ could be more competitive this year.

http://news.mainetoday.com/apwire/D8133UAG0-63.shtml

[Sub Atomic]

1. I'm not sure about that.

With the so-called drug 'benefit' added to Medicare at increased costs and the administrations virtual assurance that they were going to destroy social security will not go over well in Florida or Arizona.

West Virginia, Ohio & Michigan have lost so many jobs since * took office, only a dolt would not be able to figure out that with * still in office, things are not going to get better.

It will be very interesting to see how this whole campaign season shakes out.

[FloridaPat]

4. Florida was stolen. No ifs, ands, or buts. Had it not been, the

idiot would have been collecting unemployment in Texas. They stole it once, they can do it again.

[West Coast Democrat]

2. I don't see how Bushco expects to have a close race in Oregon this year

We have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.

[stevedeshazer]

5. Two words:

Lars Larson

[West Coast Democrat]

6. Lars Larsen, Mr. Radio Guy....

He doesn't have that much sway among non-Conservatives.

[Momof1]

3. Pennsylvania

Don't worry about this state. With the steel tariffs, and you have to realize exactly how much Teresa Heinz Kerry is loved in this state. When her husband John passed away the whole state was in mourning. The only way it could get screwed up, is if she outsources all the jobs. And she wouldn't do that.

[KansDem]

7. This is rather provocative...

...considering Kerry hasn't picked his running mate, yet. I suggest wait and see who runs with him, them start dividing up the states.

[JorgeTheGood]

8. The key is CA

The election will boil down to one and only one state.

California. Protect that state and the rest will take care of itself.

Make no mistake about it -- as it stands now, the Arnold/Diebold connection will put CA in the red column. That's why the gop doesn't care if they lose FL (and others) ... they have CA in the bag.

Jorge

[Retrograde]

11. Didn't work last time

This year, who knows? I don't know anyone who'll admit to voting Republican, but this is the Bay Area, where the godless commies are all destroying civilization with gay marriages, according to Frist.

I really don't know how indicative Arnie is (came in 3rd in San Francisco co., incidentally - after the Green candidate): a lot of people didn't like Davis, Bustamante was too blatantly in bed with special interests. Diebold scares me - along with poll workers who were still trying to figure out how to work those damn things last Tuesday.

It's possible to get to be president without California - Bush* did it in 2000. I'm hoping that the GOP decides they don't really need us so I don't have to be bombarded with their commercials.

linda

[AspenRose]

9. Nuevo Mexico

Mr. Richardson will ensure that it will go for Kerry. In 2000 there was a Republican governor in NM. Bill Richardson has too much "gravitas" with the Democrats to see it tossed up arbitrarily for Dubya.

[depakid]

10. Another shallow article

This AP writer is obviously not very intelligent (and probably also lazy). He's dreaming if he thinks Bush has even a sliver of a chance in Oregon & Washington. I guess we'd better get use to shill's like this... because we'll be hearing a lot more of them.