This CNN map will help you breathe easier.

[pnwmom]

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/calculator/

According to CNN's numbers, based on the number of "safe" electoral votes McCain now has, he could win 100% of the "leaning McCain" votes, PLUS 100% of the "Toss-up" votes -- and STILL LOSE THE ELECTION. To win now, he needs all the red states, all the pink states, and all the toss-up states -- plus he needs to take at least one blue Obama leaning or safe state.

This does NOT mean we should be complacent. It DOES mean that Obama's strategy is working, and we should all be helping in whatever ways we can.

[Selatius]

1. No, don't breathe easier. Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers.

By stupid people, I mean the apparatchiks in the Republican Party who are trying to engage in election fraud.

[pnwmom]

3. People who aren't breathing well aren't very functional. n/t

[RoyGBiv]

2. There's something else about that map ...

How its producers define "leaning..."

Should Virginia really be considered to be the same category as Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania's most recent polls have shown nothing but double-digit leads for Obama. Virginia is still mostly single digits and happens to be quite similar to Florida, which is declared a toss-up.

McCain isn't going to win any of the "lean" Obama states, and I doubt he'll win any of the toss-ups, certainly not all of them.

[Selatius]

6. Here is a map from a different source:

http://www.electoral-vote.com/

Virginia is considered "weak Democrat" on this map, which is why it is a lighter shade of blue than Pennsylvania.

[OwnedByFerrets]

4. And if you want to NOT feel good or breathe easy....

read this months Rolling Stone. Greg Palast and Kennedy have another great report on how our election has ALREADY been stolen....and what we can do about it.

[ailsagirl]

5. Thanks for posting!! :)

[yardwork]

7. It still could go either way.

Yes, Obama can win even without Ohio and Florida, but in that case he has to win Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Personally, I think that if Obama wins Virginia, he'll win in a landslide. But I'm not confident enough to relax.

[pnwmom]

8. He doesn't have to win both VA AND PA if he loses in Ohio and Florida.

Assuming he keeps the "safe" states, all he has to do is win half the electoral votes in the Obama -leaning states and half in the toss-up states (or, for example, 3/4 in the leaning states and 1/4 of the toss-up states) to win. There are a number of scenarios by which he would win even if he lost Ohio, Florida, and Virginia.

[Clio the Leo]

9. all the green states, all the purple states, states we dont even have yet ..... New Zealand.... NT