Swinging for the Fences

I was reading today that Obama is spending money to advertise in Georgia, Indiana, and Alaska. Some people think this has just been some kind of gamesmanship trick, but it is just one more sign that November 2008 has Democratic blowout written all over it. 

Consider this: Alaska, in the history of the state, has voted for a Democrat once- LBJ in 1964. 

Indiana voted for FDR in 1936, but then voted against his 3rd and 4th terms in 1940 and 1944, starting a run where Republicans won 16 of Indiana's past 17 Presidential elections- again, only LBJ in 1964. 

Georgia has a colorful record. JFK in 1960, but Barry Goldwater in 1964 in response to the Civil Rights Act which flipped the entire South for.... well, we're waiting. In 1968 they went for "Segregation now, Segregation tomorrow, Segregation forever!" George Wallace. In 1972 they went for Richard Nixon. In 1976 and 1980 they voted for home-grown Jimmy Carter. In 1984 they went to Reagan. In 1992, Perot and Bush split enough that Clinton won. That's "JFK-Goldwater-Wallace-Nixon-Carter-Reagan-Bush-Clinton-Dole-Bush" if you are scoring at home. 

But the last 3 elections they have been enormously red. Bush won by 17 points in 2004. McCain led by 1 point in a recent Georgia poll, and Obama is spending money there. 

The general election odds are 2-1 Obama with 137 days to go. 90% betting chances that Democrats will add to their majorities in the House and Senate, CNBC said on Friday.