Places where McCain was a better candidate than Bush

[nclib]

Most areas that swung Republican, were more anti-Obama than pro-McCain (Ark., Appalachia) and the home states Mass. and Ariz., but are there any areas where the swing was caused by McCain being a better candidate for the area than Bush?

[nclib]

Most areas that swung Republican, were more anti-Obama than pro-McCain (Ark., Appalachia) and the home states Mass. and Ariz., but are there any areas where the swing was caused by McCain being a better candidate for the area than Bush?

No. Arizona and Massachusetts were both more Democratic in 2008 than in 2004.

I was referring to the fact that they had counties which swung Republican, possibly due to the home state effect, esp. considering that no state bordering Mass. or Ariz. had any counties that swung Republican.

[nclib]

it is hard to imagine a scenario (besides this one of course) in which McCain loses in a landslide. The Reason McCain Lost is, in every way, Dubya.

Certainly, though this thread is in regards to areas where McCain improved (or declined less than the average swing) over Bush (2004) because he was a better candidate for the area than Bush (2004).