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Originally Posted by Barrow|Pony
Essentially you're correct, but you can't gloss over the oh so dramatic red state v. blue state distinctions.
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You are, of course, right in this respect. It's incredibly complex and you could write essays and essays on the subject while only scratching the surface.
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Originally Posted by Barrow|Pony
That objective look at home territory just isn't present in the South. Arkansas, which is a conservative bastion for all intensive purposes, voted Clinton. South Carolina was close enough to Kerry/Edwards that should Edwards be on the top of the ticket, it would turn blue. Though it's not a guaranteed win (See 1976), you can bank on a Northeast/West Coast sweep for any democrat ever and there's possibility for a switch for a southern politician. It's just not like that vice versa.
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Arkansas has, however, historically been more Democratic-leaning than states such as Oklahoma, Alabama and Mississippi. For example, both of its Senators are currently Democrats. Regarding Edwards, there was never any guarantee that South Carolina would go for him, and certainly not North Carolina. If he was the Presidential candidate? Perhaps.
In 2004 Bush took the entire South, but Kerry only lost because of Ohio. The same can be said for Gore's loss in 2000. If the Democrats can continue their resurgeance in the Mountain states (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming) and the Mid-West (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin) then they'll win Presidential elections. Obama can do that. If he does that, he doesn't have to win any Southern states (which he will).
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Originally Posted by Barrow|Pony
Which is why I hope Wesley Clark wins the nomination.
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Why? He's from Chicago, not the South. Or are you saying this on the basis of his military background?