How many red states remain in play?

[dolstein]

By my estimate, the following red states are still being seriously contested:

Ohio
Florida
New Hampshire
Nevada
Colorado

There have been some high profile stories about Kerry's campaign giving up on Missouri and Virginia. In addition, I don't believe the campaign is advertising in Arizona or Arkansas. I'm less sure about North Carolina, although I believe recent polls show Bush widening his lead.

If anyone here believes that there are other red states that remain in play, ask yourself two questions: First, is the Kerry campaign running ads in the state? Second, are Kerry or Edwards making campaign appearances in the state? If the answer to both questions is no, then I think it's hard to argue that the state is still in play.

[TomClash]

1. West Virginia . . .

. . . is still in play.

[featherman]

2. I believe some of this is still in flux

I'd like to think that WV, AR, AZ, MO would still be worth competing. I guess looking at staff withdrawal is more valid right now than ad money which may return at a later date as improvement in the numbers shows up. Also advertising by surrogates may continue in some of these states to keep things in play with an eye to returning later for a push. Little early to say Kerry campaign is actually "giving up" in some of these places. It's a bit little guerilla war...chose your spots, keep the other side off balance.