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For Dems, West May Be Winnable in November

The states moving fastest from right to left are not in the East

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 1, 2008 8:56 PM CST
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(Newser) – The political geography of Western states has been shifting from Republican to Democratic, and four—Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Arizona—could be winnable for Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton for the first time in decades, Colorado Confidential writes. Party brass wouldn’t talk up a “Western strategy,” but Democratic success in the Mountain time zone could make other swing states less essential.

Democrats now outnumber Republicans in New Mexico and Nevada, and have recently swept to political power in Colorado—where independent ranks and Democratic registration are also bulging. A GOP nomination of John McCain put the senator's native Arizona out of reach, and Obama may have trouble winning Latino voters, but Harry Reid’s party is definitely laying tracks out West.

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, speaks as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., looks on during a Democratic presidential debate in Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, speaks as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., looks on during a Democratic presidential debate in Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)   (Associated Press)
Felipe Aguirre, center, demonstrates as he caucuses for Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton at Rancho High School Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/ Ronda Churchill)
Felipe Aguirre, center, demonstrates as he caucuses for Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton at Rancho High School Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/ Ronda Churchill)   (Associated Press)
Colorado Department of Natural Resources Executive Director, Harris D. Sherman, left, discusses oil and gas drilling in the western slope of Colorado Tuesday July 3, 2007 with Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, center, and Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., right, on the governor's state plane as the trio fly from Centennial Airport...
Colorado Department of Natural Resources Executive Director, Harris D. Sherman, left, discusses oil and gas drilling in the western slope of Colorado Tuesday July 3, 2007 with Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter,...   (Associated Press)
As the election nears, strategists for the Democratic party are optimistic about gaining wiggle room in traditionally Republican western states.
As the election nears, strategists for the Democratic party are optimistic about gaining wiggle room in traditionally Republican western states.   (Shutterstock)
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