*SIGHS*
This poll obviously sucked, that's one thing. But the South is NOT as uncompetitive as many Republicans seem to think. I don't think Kerry is gonna win a lot in the SOuth, he isn't a very Southern candiadate. But it's not like the GOP has a lock on it. Most of the lean GOP states are in the South.
Victory margins in 2000:
Colorado 8.36%
Virginia 8.04%
Louisiana 7.68%
West Virginia 6.32%
Arizona 6.28%
Washington 5.58%
Arkansas 5.44%
Michigan 5.13%
Maine 5.11%
Pennsylvania 4.17%
Tennessee 3.86%
All of those states are certainly winnable for either side.
I guess it depends what you define "competitive" as 
Are they winnable by both side..? ya sure, no doubt about it, but if any of them gets truly in play, the election is over anyway...
If it ever gets to the point where if sombody asks me "Who is ahead in Arizona?" and I am not sure the answer is "Bush" then the election is over, and Kerry has won.
Similarly, if you ever ask me "Who is ahead in Washington" and If I have to think about if Kerry is ahead, it is likewise all over and Bush has won.
chop chop!
PS - My new map is up - Divided up in 2% increments - think it works pretty well actually.
Hm...not necessarily. It'd only take a RELATIVE swing of a few points to make one of those states competitive in a close race. Now, I'm not saying that this WILL happen, but that it COULD. I do think the map will look basically the same as in 2000, with the same battlegrounds, the only true exception being West Virginia, but I'm just putting this out as a reminder. A state that was by a margin of 8% 4 years ago could be competitive this year.
