For the week of August 4-10 Obama gained ground everywhere but the South, per Gallup

[book_worm]

Aug 4-10 (last week) Obama McCain
Red states 40 (41) 49 (48)
battleground/purple states 47 (46) 41 (42)
Blue states 54 (49) 35 (39)

and the fascinating

Candidate Support by Region

Aug 4-10 (last week) Obama McCain
East 51 (46) 38 (41)
Midwest 50 (46) 38 (42)
South 40 (42) 50 (48)
West 50 (47) 40 (42)

(he pretty much held his own in the Red states, he expanded his lead to six-points in battleground/purple states and he now leads by 19-points in blue states, up from ten-points the prior week. In the East Obama went from a five-point lead to a 13-point lead. In the Midwest he expanded his lead to twelve from four; in the West he now leads by ten-ponts up from five.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/108061/Candidate-Support-Red-Purple-Blue-States.aspx
http://www.gallup.com/poll/108037/Candidate-Support-Region.aspx

[earthlover]

1. Gains in the blue states won't make any difference in the electoral college

What I want to focus on is gains in the swing states.

There are some states McCain is going to win no matter what, and same for Obama. The election will be decided by the remaining states.

[Drunken Irishman]

2. The midwest and west are huge gains for Obama.

The South would be nice, but this election will be won/loss in the west and midwest.