The movement was stunning. CO was a rock solid GOP state; Bush won it by more than 4% in 2004 but Obama won it by nearly 9% in 2008. Was there a huge latino and millennial surge in 2008?
Never was CO a rock solid GOP state and neither was VA. It's a far left conception construed into spinning their fairy tale that everything is sliding their way. CO voted for Clinton in 1992 and slightly for Dole in 1996. Other than 2000, it's been pretty competitive in the last several elections. If you want to go back to the 80's that's fine. The deep south was once solidly Democrat following the Civil War too. CO has been purple for some time now. VA has been sliding to the left each election since 1996. Even from 1952-2004, VA wasn't too far center-right.
The thing is, VA has been trending left even as its western part has veered hard right. McCain hit 60 or 70 percent in much of the western half; meanwhile, Obama took Fairfax by 20 points, where Clinton lost it, albeit narrowly. As America grows more urban and rural areas bleed population, this bodes well for the Democrats.