Kerry's VP

[elcorazon]

I think my division (not worth much since I'm not an American) would go something like this, trying to include voting patterns to some extent:

Northeast: ME, MA, CT, VT, NH, NY, RI, NJ DE, MD, DC

Steel States: WV, PA, OH

Mid-West: IA, MN, WI, MI, MO, IL, IN

South: VA, NC, SC, GA, MS, AL, AR, LA, TX, TN, KY, OK, FL

Farm States: NE, KS, ND, SD, AK

Western States: ID, MT, UT, WY, CO

South-West: NV, AZ, NM

Pacific: CA, WA, OR, HI

This does not make that much sense geographically, but some politically. It leaves out Alaska, Hawaii, Florida, Illinois and Indiana, who cannot be classified in this way. Colorado is also a bit of a swing state I think.

I added the states you left out.  I think Indiana is an anomoly, being a solid Republican state in a region of states that lean democratic, but go either way.  I also think Florida is an anomoly being a "southern" state with very different demographics that keep it in play for democrats, despite the region's having become quite republican. I included Alaska as a Farm state and Hawaii as a Pacific Coast state.  NH is also a bit of an anomoly, as is Maine being more right leaning or centrist than the rest of the overwhelmingly left leaning region.

[elcorazon]

I think my division (not worth much since I'm not an American) would go something like this, trying to include voting patterns to some extent:

Northeast: ME, MA, CT, VT, NH, NY, RI, NJ DE, MD, DC

Steel States: WV, PA, OH

Mid-West: IA, MN, WI, MI, MO, IL, IN

South: VA, NC, SC, GA, MS, AL, AR, LA, TX, TN, KY, OK, FL

Farm States: NE, KS, ND, SD, AK

Western States: ID, MT, UT, WY, CO

South-West: NV, AZ, NM

Pacific: CA, WA, OR, HI

This does not make that much sense geographically, but some politically. It leaves out Alaska, Hawaii, Florida, Illinois and Indiana, who cannot be classified in this way. Colorado is also a bit of a swing state I think.

I added the states you left out.  I think Indiana is an anomoly, being a solid Republican state in a region of states that lean democratic, but go either way.  I also think Florida is an anomoly being a "southern" state with very different demographics that keep it in play for democrats, despite the region's having become quite republican. I included Alaska as a Farm state and Hawaii as a Pacific Coast state.  NH is also a bit of an anomoly, as is Maine being more right leaning or centrist than the rest of the overwhelmingly left leaning region.

The states I left out? Are you referring to the fact that I forgot about D.C.? That would be in the Northeast, of course. I agree that Hawaii should be a pacific state, of course. Alaska is not geographically a farm state, but politically, that's why I left it out. NH and Maine aren't as serious anomalies as Illinois and Indiana and Florida. Illinois is heavily Democratic right now in an area of tossups, bot on second thought it can still be put up there b/c it isn't long-term Democratic in that sense. Indiana is still off though.  

I just meant the states you felt didn't fit it.  I don't think Illinois is THAT heavily democratic and yes I admitted Indiana was out of character here, but the only place it would make sense & it IS contiguous is to throw it in with the south.  I view all of the other Midwest states as winnable by both sides.  True more lean democratic, but they are all in play.  Illinois, I would agree is the least likely to vote republican, but it could happen, just not if the election remains close.