the next population chart

[tarheel-leftist85]

Interestingly, looking at the closest states Bush won, a Republican in 2012 could win even if he lost OH, as long as he also won at least 2 of the closest small states of IA, NV, and NM.
If he won OH, a Republican could lose IA, NV, and NM and still win.

EXACTLY.  Democrats:  This is why it more than just about OH.  Florida will be bigger than NY in just five or six years.  The Western states are growing fast (except for CA, where the growth is mostly illeagals), but b/c they're so small, it takes them time to amass the EVs we need to counter the massive losses we will sustain in NY, OH, PA, MA, CT, RI, NJ, IL, MI, and WI.  We'd also be doing this country a disservice if we merely eek by with 270 EVs.  I'm sorry, but it's the truth and I'm glad a Republican could point this out.

[tarheel-leftist85]

I have slightly different 2030 state rankings.  Did you get these statistics from the recently published projections (I think sometime in April)?  My top ten and their respective EVs are as follows (I have the article from USA Today but I can't find it right now):
1.  California--58EV
2.  Texas--42EV
3.  Florida--36EV
4.  New York--25EV
5.  Illinois--18EV
6.  North Carolina--17EV
7.  Pennsylvania--17EV
8.  Georgia--16EV
9.  Ohio--16EV
10.  Arizona--15EV
When I find the article, I'll post a map for those who like maps!

[tarheel-leftist85]

Northeast (102EV)--DC, MD, DE, NJ, PA, NY, CT, MA, RI, VT, NH, ME (-15EV from now)
South (182EV)--VA, WV, KY, NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, LA, AR, TN, TX (+18EV from now)
Midwest + Plains (117EV)--OH, IN, IL, MI, WI, MO, IA, MN, OK, KS, NE, SD, ND (-15EV from now)
West (137EV)--MT, ID, WY, CO, NM, UT, AZ, NV, CA, OR, WA, AK, HI (+12 from now)
DC, AK, and HI not show, but accounted for
Approach:
I took the total US population project and divided it by 435.  I took each state poulation and divided it by the previous figure, rounding accordingly, and adding two electoral votes.