Arizona Red, not for long!

[DeepBlueDem]

Arizona shows up on all those Electoral College maps as red.
But the color-coding by news networks and major newspapers doesn't tell the full story of a state that is undergoing dramatic demographic changes that portend an election soon when Arizona might be a major battleground — even if it's not this year.
New polling suggests the presidential election is closer here than anyone anticipated.

And political minds on both sides of the partisan divide say that in a future race without an Arizonan on the national ballot, the state could follow the lead of other Western states — like Nevada and Colorado — in being heavily contested.

Population growth, and an influx of both young and Hispanic residents, is shifting the balance of power in the state, pollsters say. From now on, that power is likely to be held by voters calling themselves independent — not Republican or Democrat.

Voters claiming no party account for nearly 28 percent of registered voters in Arizona. Ten years ago, only 14 percent of voters fell in that category.

Some experts, however, say the long-term impact of the current national climate, one that benefits Democrats over Republicans, shouldn't be overstated.

John McCain is still predicted to win here, but with his lead over Barack Obama diminishing greatly in new polling, some say the GOP's hold on the state has officially ended — the party only holds a 4-percentage-point registration edge over Democrats.

http://www.azstarnet.com/news/264209

[Bicoastal]

1. Meanwhile, Illinois, Hawaii, and Florida remain locks for the Democrats.

:evilgrin:

[ObamaKerryDem]

2. Saw this on the front page of the AZ Daily Star Today (I live in Tucson)..

I couldn't stop grinning. :D I love that it's even CLOSE this time and definitely think we'll take it back in '12...if not this time. Never say never! ;)