One interesting demographic pattern is the growth of the Democratic party in the South on the presidential level. This can already be seen in Virginia and North Carolina, and probably will be important in Georgia. How crucial do you think this will be in the future? Will there be significant Democratic growth in SC, Mississippi, or Texas?
The growth of the Democratic parties in the states you mentioned is happening for different reasons. Virginia has become a more urban state with a lot of people moving to NOVA to work in Washington. The Research Triangle in North Carolina on the other hand is becoming the Massachusetts of the South (university cities are usually very liberal).
Georgia and especially Atlanta are a very attractive destination for many African-Americans from around the country. In many of these states Obama was also able to inspire African-Americans who saw his candidacy as a historical moment for the country (and rightfully so).
African-Americans in many cases have been apathetic towards politics because they felt ignored by both parties, and whether these people will keep voting once Obama is out of the picture remains to be seen. But I think the African-American vote made a huge difference in Florida and Virginia.
South Carolina has similar characteristics to North Carolina and Georgia but the Democratic presence is still not as strong.
Mississippi is a different story. This is the state where the % of the black population is the largest in the country and it's steadily increasing. At some point in the near future it could easily become a black-majority state. Texas is also different, due to the increasing population of Hispanics who are becoming more and more Democratic as well as the growth of the large urban centers. But I think many are overestimating the influence Democrats will have here in the near future.
