CNN

When the going gets tough, PRAGMATISM eventually trumps POLITICAL IDEOLOGY.

The new Obama-Biden cabinet is leading with pragmatic solutions, while the Rush Limbaugh Republican Ditto-heads (in Congress) are still playing the same old failed and tired childish political ideology. They lost in 2006, they lost in 2008, they will loose in 2010 and 2012.

I noticed that the Republicans are trying to avoid going after Obama and are going after Pelosi and Reid now. Interesting strategy. Unfortunately, though, when the Republicans continue to support toxic personalities like Rush Limbaugh, it shows that they still are intent on retaining their bigoted footing.

THE DEMOCRAT'S REPRESENT THE AVERAGE AMERICAN AND ARE IN FAVOR OF THE PEOPLE.

REPUBLICANS HAVE SHOWN THEIR TRUE COLOR WITH NO MINORITIES, WOMEN OR LATINO' S IN THEIR PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY AND VOTE FOR BIG CORPORATIONS AND THE RICH!!

GO DEM'S!!!

@Bosworth:

A few years ago when they were talking about the Democratic demise, it was based on fear- a war on terror, Bush's then popularity, etc.

The reason why the Republican party is on its way down is because the party is seen as racist (so there will never be a majority of Latinos, blacks, Asians, and gays and lesbians voting Republican for a long time or ever) and intelligent white people don't care to vote for a racist, fear-mongering divisive party. This is not out of fear but out of the respect and inclusiveness that most Americans feel the Democratic party advocates for and the Republicans for so long have been against. Big difference.

And they owe it all to W.

Go Utah! I guess Utah's one of the only places that actually votes on principle rather than rhetoric. We vote for the guys with the (R) next to their names because they are good leaders (Orrin Hatch, Bob Bennett, Jon Huntsman).

Republicans should follow the Utah model: get qualified, reasonable, principled leaders who will never throw mud on the "other guys" and rant and rave in a scary, uncontrolled way. Plus leaders like Hatch and Bennett don't eat their young like some Republicans do when the issue of religion is brought up.

I regret we are in the same party as Sarah Palin, George W. Bush and Mike Huckabee. Yuck. The party needed a good cleansing.

This isn't news. I have realized for some time that we are becoming a nation of parasites. Let's face it: the only reaons people vote for the democratic party is because they want the government to give them something for free. Over time, as the democratic party becomes stronger and stronger, America will become weaker and weaker. Thanks to the democrats, we have become a nation of dead-beats and free-loaders.

* correcting typo * I for one think this is fantastic. I can't wait for the day when there are NO red states. The country will be considerably better off with the conservatives marginalized.

Aren^t we American a wonderful group of people? I never seen the good mood swing we all displaying in many years it must be some in the air. May I say good thing is coming to America.

WAIT FOLKS..... REMEMBER CHANGE IS ON THE WAY AND I DON,T THINK MOST OF YOU WILL LIKE THE CHANGES THAT ARE COMING.

I for one think this is fantastic. I can't wait for the day when there are NO read states. The country will be considerably better off with the conservatives marginalized.

Funny thing is the majority of people on this blog probably don't even know the fundamental differences between Republicans and Democrats. They bash Bush but don't really know why...they praise Obama but don't really know why.

So just refuse to cooperate this year. Then leave for the next 20 years.

As much as I am pleased to see this trend, I hope the Democrats work their a@#^& off to earn that honor.
The Republicans will not go away. They should have after Watergate but they came back big 6 years later. They should have after the Clinton years but they came back again.
If the Democrats get fat and lazy, we will lose again.
Pelosi and Reid--I have not been big supporters of either of you. Here is your chance to prove me wrong.

If Republicans keep doing stupid things like they did today, it's likely to be all blue pretty soon.

Great news! The Republicans really need to find a middle ground and stop shoving their right-wing, religious agenda's down our throats!! Wake up.......the majority of Americans are middle of the road....not far right!!

Arkansas is pretty blue. The Governor is a Democrat, both Senators are Democrats, my Congressman is a Democrat

When Huckabee couldn't run again(lucky for him), the Democrats took every seat that was open. He was VERY unpopular by that time. We couldn't wait to get him out of office!

That was two years ago and the state has run pretty well ever since!

Give it four years. I remember the Carter years; these will be worse. When the bill for all the stimulus pork comes due, and the country is bankrupt like a lot of those big blue socialist states (California for example) there will be change you can believe in.

DUH

Look at their heroes – Rush and Rove

All we have to do is sit back and listen to them both hang themselves.

But then, the uneducated republicans will follow anyone. The educated republicans will join Ron Paul or the Dems.

Game over

Oh no!!!!! Please, no more election maps for a while PLEASE

What is even more amusing is that you'll still hear them say that we are a "center right" nation. Just because you say it, doesn't mean it is true.

Over the past eight years the Republican party has moved to the extreme right, with an agenda devoted totally to enriching the already wealthy, while keeping average Americans "in their place". The gap between the rich and the rest of us has widened greatly.

These neocons hoped that they could use their wealth to brainwash the American people but they didn't count on the internet, which has permitted all sorts of information to travel around the globe in seconds. Fact Checks dogged every neocon lie. YouTube showed us everything the Republican-owned cable stations omitted.

We're armed with information and we're paying attention. Unless the neocons stop representing the rich and powerful and START representing the American people, their days are numbered.

WE'LL DO IT AGAIN IN 2010!!!!

boehener of ohio; and the republican party. you have for the last 8 yrs looted and robbed the treasury and the american people. now tell me will somebody. who has profitted in this economic abyss this freefall ,but the grand party who have been in power. who else has the nerve to demand to tax cuts when the united states is in freefall? how could you request tax breaks? where did you people get your profit when wallstreet [wink-wink] is tanking............ ya right and everything else is tanking where did the grand ol party get its earnings in this finanical disaster? where they can have the nerve to ask for tax breaks.

The main reason people are turning away from the GOP is that republicans currently stand for intolerance, bigotry and hatered. Putting out "Barack the Magic Negro" to all high ranking members of the GOP is a symptom of how full of hate these people truly are. The GOP has been given everything that it deserves.

THAT'S HOW IT SHOULD BE FROM NOW. THE REPUBLICANS ARE A BUNCH OF RACIAL CROOKS. YOU COULD CARRY THIS STATEMENT TO THE BANK.

As long as prominent Republican politicians, operatives, and windbags continue to pander to the white racist Republican "core base", the Republican Party will remain a damaged, bankrupt brand with an ever shrinking constituency - a constituency that is literally dying off.

How can Oklahoma be dark blue?

McCain won all of OK's counties in the 2008 election.

Something doesn't add up.

In 2012 and 2016, there will be a growing Republican trend. Both parties screw up when they get power, this is nothing new. They never seem to learn from their mistakes.

Sadly, as a former Reagan young republican, I've seen the GOP kill itself. How did they do that?
1. They became the party of old stale Caucasian men.
2. They refused to update the party with the changing demographics of the US population.
3. They married the ugly, mean-spirited bride: evangelicals.
4. They let American jobs be sent overseas to India.
5. They partied with the Wall St. fat cats and set them free from any oversight and accountability, because they liked the lobbists' money.
6. They made enemies of all moderates in the world.
7. They refused to appeal to young creative minds.
8. They let a dictator ruin this country for 8 years.
9. They let radio comedians Rush L. control them.
10. They get excited over Palin!
Need I go on? I am disappointed that the GOP has lost its way, and now, they want blame their problems on the Dems. No wonder I left the GOP. The ship is sinking!

The RepliCANTS still don't get it. The party for the fundamentalist white geriatric set is shrinking.

Unless and until the Republicans detach themselves from Drug-Flush Dimbulbous (sic) & Co, and the homophobia, racism, misogyny, greed, warmongering, environmental rape, Ludditism, creationism, konservative kristianist kultist extremism, and bald-faced LIES they represent, they will continue to decline. The American electorate sent them a VERY clear message in 2008 ... one which they have yet to heed. If Gov. Palin runs in 2012, she will seal the doom of the GOP.

RUN, SARAH, RUN!

I am THRILLED to see this. Maybe more Americans are waking up. We need badly to improve our education system. And maybe we need more parties. I think the right wing nuts need to form their own party "the conservatives" or whatever. Many moderates do not relate to them and if you are a minority or gay Republican you feel as if you are not welcome.

Come 2012, when nothing's gotten better and people are looking for a new soul to demonize for their own stupidity, this map will be looking even more different. Stay Gray, Texas.

As people learn more about republican leadership (an oxymoron), the more blue the states will become.

I'm curious what the great conservative minds of our time, Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber, think about this.

As long as the Rethuglicans think Palin is "mainstream" and "from the real America" the wilderness will theirs to keep.

It won't last long. And if you think this is the way the country will always be, you're surley mistaken.

Don't get your feelings hurts when the walls come crashing down on your "majority" after the country gets sick of your Socialist agenda.

Mark my words.

The Republicans are going to free-market and corporate-tax-break themselves into obscurity. So be it.

Thanks Dubya, Cheney, Rummy, Gonxo, Rove, Rush, Hannity etc etc etc
You have done the US a huge favor. The likes of boner and the rest of the GOP dinosaurs who still don't get it are driving the final nail themselves!
And Mr. Obama's term is only 1-week into what appears to be a looooooong 8-years for the so called "values" party, I guess their values aren't shared by the majority of Americans.

Well said Gavin
The only things that the Dems have to fear are Pelosi and Reid. Neither party can stick its head in the sand and not cooperate with the other.
Don't get too cocky Dems.
We won the election. That was the easy part. Now we need to govern with a little humility and a lot of wisdom. Don't get smug now. We need every American to want a better America and it will take all of us to get us out of this mess.

Tennessee voted for McCain with about 57% of the vote. The Republicans won majorities in BOTH houses of the state legislature. Both of our senators are Republicans. How on earth is that leaning Democratic? Great study, and more wonderful liberal journalism by CNN to report on it.

First of all, stop with this 'Blue State/ Red State' nonsense. The name of the country is UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, no Red or Blue in it.
True, there is a strong tendency for some of the states to vote 'Red' and others to vote 'Blue', and there are those that you can never tell for sure which 'color' they will prefer on the election. But stop acting like there are states that are 'Americanly Different' of others due to the political leaning of the majority of its population.
This country is big enough to have all sorts of differences between its states and counties, let's not make it a big deal.
This said, isn't it a bit too early to start the stories about the 2010 election?

Look how the"other" majorities became minorities throughout history. The "wild west" disappeared once. Maybe it's happening again?The coasts always are "in-the-know". The inlands need time to catch up. I grew up in WV and it IS different once you travel to more intell. areas...

GOOD! This country will go farther and do better domestically and globally with progressives than with "NO WE CAN"T" conservatives.

The Democrats will hopefull not blow it! I believe the country realizes what a bunch of dumb a&* morons are left in the Republican party. They are a narrow minded group of individuals. They are hateful and small minded. They encourage people to not be curious because they need empty headed people to follow them. A curious person doesn't belong with a party like the Republicans. I believe they are jumping ship and becoming Independents. Hopefully we will still end up with a two party system; Independents and Democrats with the Republicans taking their new designation as a fringe party (something similar to the Green Party).

GO AWAY YOU LOSERS!

The reasons for this are becoming more clear everyday. Every Republican in Congress just voted against the economic stimulus plan. In addition to giving rich people tax cuts, it appears that the Republicans only want to help out corporations and banks. They don't care about the American people. Their rhetoric is empty and their motives are vindictive.

good grief....we just got done with one election, and you're already making predictions about the next one???

maybe we should wait and see how things go for a few months.....blue could change to red just as easy as the other direction.

Go blue Go! I'm sick of the Republicans divisive politics. I don't know what they stand for, just who and what they hate.

I love the sea of blue!

Turns red to blue real easily when the government promises free money to the non-producers of the world.

Would sure like to see and would be delighted to have more blue
states taken from Republican terrorists.

For years republicans have portrayed themselves as the party of the little guy, while all their policies benefited the rich elites and big businesses, to the detriment of the average American. Now the results of their philosophy(?) are apparent in the smoking ruins of our society and our virtually bankrupt government. Trickle down doesn't work. None of their plans work. The emperor has no clothes; no amount of fancy propaganda and Rovian fear- mongering can cover the absolute shambles they have made of EVERYTHING.

"Also on that list: Arizona and Texas, home states of the GOP’s last two presidential candidates."

Please, please, please!!!! stop referring to Texas as Bush's home state. George W. Bush, like his brothers and father are from New England. G.W. Bush went to Yale, like his daddy (and actually failed to gain admission to the University of Texas), so can we please end the myth that he is from Texas. Thank you!

The GOP has to choose what their future is in 2012. They can take a right wing ideologue like Sarah Palin or Huckabee proving they are in fact no different then they were in the Bush era or they can somehow find someone new that returns them to a more libertarian streak that americans once loved. Ron Paul will never win their nomination but a less extreme version of him would reshape the party into something independents could vote for.

This is how Rush helps the Republicans. They don't get it and neither does Rush. END GAME.

Lets hope this is TRUE BLUE in 2010 and beyond.....

Give it time. It will change. Pelosi and Reid will be the cause of it and then what are you Liberals gonna cry about and hate

Uh, a little early to declare the country permanently Democrat, isn't it? I recall a few years ago when everyone was handwringing over the demise of the Democratic Party.

Laugh it up, I guess.

The Republicans will come back. But the way the country is trending, their values will mirror those of today's moderate or conservative Democrats. The Rush Limbaugh and Christian Coalition conservatives will be dinosaurs by 2025.

I have been listening to the Republicans say over and over again that they like President Obama, but no to there ideas. Hello!!!! We didn't vote him in just because we "like" him....he WON because we wanted his ideas to run this government. Deal with it.

Thanks Rush! The more you speak, the larger the shift to the Democratic Party. I love it. Keep on spreading that filth!

Is this a surprise to anyone?

Two things need to happen:

1) the GOP needs to actually be conservative and not promote a state-expanding, spend-happy agenda

2) the Obama honeymoon needs to end (which time will take care of).

Braeden, actually you are wrong. Arkansas has voted Republican in the past several presidential elections but a large majority of the state and national elected officials are Democrats. It's a strange duality for the state to vote one way in the presidential elections and another way in the state and national elections. Yup, Hukabee was governor for a while but that was a blip that most Arkansans we glad to get rid of!

And now that all of the House Republicans voted no for the stimulus pkg, there will be more Democratic seats. They don't get it...YET!

To the other John, Democrats are not socialists. We are Americans. Some things are better socialized like Fire/Police Services, Mail Service, Military. Now it looks like Banking and Medicare ought to be socialized. Capitalism should reign but it should be regulated. Regulation is not socialism. It is the people setting the rules of the game. I bought my house from a man who had to sell because he could not pay health insurance for his wife. He is in the Safety Industry (which depends on regulation) and he is a Veteran with a mental health history who depends on the VA for everything except heart & lung issues. He now lives in Idaho and has a friend who drives to Canada to get perscriptions. Yet, he is "afraid" of socialized medicine and still votes Republican. Can someone explain this?

So can someone please explain to me what this "center-right nation" crap that Rush and Hannity keep yelling about is based on?

At first, my hopes were up. Then, I realized that this Gallup map reflects voter REGISTRATION numbers. As we know, many Dems vote Repub and vice versa. The map also tells us nothing about the largest group, independents. I find it nearly impossible to believe that states like LA, AR, KY, OK, WV, and especially MO would ever vote for a Black man, considering how these states are stuck in the 18th century.

The GOP needs to move back toward caring about every-day people or else it will fail permanently. I am a Republican, but recognize that change in our own party is needed. It's time for us to look in the mirror and realize we don't like what we see. It should be about championing our values, not simply focusing on winning elections at any cost. We need to bring trust, responsibility, decency, and principle back into the GOP, and we need to do it now.

Socialism? You mean like Russia or China where the Gov can do anything they want?
Sounds like the last eight years to me..
However, if it means sharing the wealth, who would want that anyway?
Certainly not Rushy the Junky...
He wants his but does not really care if the country goes "cold turkey".

They meant to say "sinking island" of red states.

you are dividing America further deep ?

After the 1994 election, the local Repubs bought billboard space in my city for the following ad: "The Democratic Party is dead in Texas".

Be nice to the people you meet on the way up, fellers. You'll be seeing the same people on the way down.

Its truly the difference between open mindedness and those that so easily sway to whatever hate/fear mongering the Repubs always used to get away with.

Rove's strategy worked so well the conservative movement is still thinking its the light at the end of their long dark tunnel.

But they've taken a wrong turn. Rather than listen to the majority of our citizens they are in denial and believe it was a fluke and that had they just been "even more conservative" on things they'd have won.

Good luck with that!

you would think Rush,Hannity and Co would change course,...shaking head

More evidence of the Grand Old Party becoming Grandpa's Old Party. GO BLUE!

We need more RUSH that will speed up their down fall.

Give Obumbler a couple of years and the entire map will be red.

Things can turn around in two years. The Dems can hang themselves. The only way Pelosi and Reid got away with doing nothing for the last two years was because of Obama.

I am a Democrat who is now going to vote for the person and not the party. Still not sure if I trust Obama.

Dems should not get too smug! The American electorate is very fickle, and will turn on them at the first opportunity. The Repubs were riding high after the '92 election, but look at them now. Everything is cyclical, including political fortunes.

If the republicans do not get on board and start to work for the people, we may have only one party. Most americans have had enough of the hate/division coming out of the republicans. If being blue will get this country back for the people then i say good.

I thought we were all one people-Americans. Guess I was wrong.

The Republican Party will be back and reenergized in 2020. I predicted this during the campaign, while realizing how the party I once considered, was dying a slow death. Hopefully, there strategy would include younger fresher minds, not easily molded into the crafty, politically aggrandized minds our current leaders have come to be. They are no longer the party of values, but the party of political ruffhousing. Greed will do it every time. Opposition is needed to keep the country well balanced. But they've created hostility with their hold out tactics, leaving the American people hanging in the balance. They were exposed during the campaign, and so far, having lot of trouble separating themselves from their old way. Good Luck, many blessings, and see ya' in 2020.

This is true when simply looking at the states as a whole, but as the old story goes, one can prove anything they wish simply by using statistics. However, this is a perfect example of the media influencing and making a story. If you look more closely at the county level, you will see an almost completely red map with the exception of the West coast, New England, and the upper Central area where the unions are heavily entrenched. Similarly, along the bottom, one will see the Hispanic growth. This is nothing new here, except the new blue states that were gained were "winner take all" states in the election, i.e. 50.1 vs 49.9 results in a victory for the blue. This is the real story of how important the swing vote actually is. Who knows how it will swing the nest time.

Amber,

There are states that have been called red for decades. The same for blue states. President Obama changed the philosophy by saying that there are no red states and no blue states, but the United States of America. In theory I know that to be true. Nevertheless, there are people who live in certain states like Kentucky, Miss., Louisiana, who believe in the power of red. So as long as these people feel that way, there will be Democrats fighting to gain control of that part of the country. Thus we have Red states and Blue states. Go Blue!

If Nebraska only "leans" Republican and Kansas and the deep south is "competitive," the GOP had better do some serious thinking about what they represent. The "party of Lincoln"? Hardly!

YAY

Thank you Sarah Palin, it's all because of people like you.

The only Republican left if Rush Limbaugh. His big mouth and fat body can easily fill in the remaining red states.

That is the dumbest map I've ever seen Oklahoma is listed as leaning democrat. McCain won that state by an even bigger majority than Alaska. He got over 70% of the votes there. Texas isn't red and everyone knows that's one of the reddest states on the planet. This map is just wishful thinking by some ignorant democrat.

Younger and newer generation are more tolorant and they use new tools to get information and refresh their thinking. Many people were inspired by Reagan and joined GOP and were the stronghold of today's GOP. After 8 years of Bush disastrous administration, many moderate Rebpulican are forced to leave the party. And now many people are inspired by Obama. The trend of blue will continue to grow into next generation.

"The republican party is doomed."

And Saddam Hussein said we'd never invade. Funny how winning an election gets liberals thinking everyone's a democrat.

Quick reminder.... Since Jimmy Carter was outsted in 1980... (28 years ago) only TWO democrats have won the White House: Clinton and Obama.

But yall libs go ahead and start counting those 'democrat chickens' before they hatch.

It's sad that we are a divided country! What happen to the USA when Sept 11, 2001 happened? Some how we all came together and we need to do it again. We all have different beliefs and we are with different political parties but we need to come together!!!!

People are tired of the Republican Culture of Corruption. It doesn't take a weatherman to tell us which way the wind was blowing when our nation went right into the ditch!!

The more Republicans embrace Rush, Sean, Bill-O the Clown, Ann, FIX-ed News and everything else that is out of touch with modern-day America... the more they become a remote piece of irrelevent history.

Nobody cares about Republicans anymore... they have become a true Culture of Corruption. It's over...

Must be something contaminating our drinking water.

"There are no red states, there are no blue states…"

Exactly, Amber... I don't think that map matters much. It's a very polarizing way to describe the country. I live in California, a very blue state, and have a number of friends who are republicans (bless their hearts – lol)... But we all have the same issues facing us (employment loss, fighting to save a house, raising families or caring for aging parents...)

John -- January 28th, 2009 4:35 pm ET

New study suggests growing Democratic edge?

That's because of growing Republican stupidity.

Short.......simple........and so very true.

Hey John, Socialism is what we are now providing to all the banks and ultra-rich corporations that YOUR party allowed to run wild due to de-regulation, lack of oversight, tax give-aways and funding of an unnecessary war.

Yes John – YOU are partly responsible for today's economic disaster by voting for such policies!! Shame on you – why do you hate America so much?!

As a registered Republican I can say with a certain conviction that this is a statistic that has only been brought on by themselves. After the big elections in November we witnessed a bloodletting and as far as the nation is concerned – it looks as though there will be another bloodletting in 2010 if the Republicans continue to play the same games as they are playing now in congress. I mean if you don't believe this – then tune in and watch CNN and witness the joke that they have become. (This is coming from a registered Republican.

Let's not forget that Obama won just 52% of the vote, while McCain won 47% of the vote (~56 million votes). Nearly half of the country didn't want Obama as president.

There is no way you're going to convince me or anyone who knows anything about politics that Texas is even remotely close to becoming a blue state.

We will come back as a strong conservative republican party and not the pseudo republican party of John McCain and other old rhinos. In the idea of arenas, liberalism fails every time and conservative principles win.

The country traded one 'fear mongerer' for a new one. Instead of war, we get economic fear which is making it worse. Public opinion is the king of recessions.

Doesn't anyone have a problem with congress borrowing almsot a TRILLION dollars to spend on pork? Do you REALLY trust Obama and Pelosi that much?

Reality is around the corner...

The Democratic Party has become the centrist party in American politics, which means they now have a less cohesive political identity. West Virginian Democrats certainly didn't come out to vote for Obama.

Curious to see what the "trend" was around 1992 and '96.

I'd tend to believe that in '92 it was similar to it is now, with a slight shift in the Reps favor in '96 to the large shift in '00. We saw a slight shift to the Dems favor in '04 and the large shift in '08.

A quick look at the political landscape over the last 10-20 years shows that it ebbs and flows both ways.

You're all on crack if you think Louisiana is turning blue...seriously. The state has been shifting red since dem leadership in the state bungled Katrina.

Kentucky has more registered Democrats than Republicans, always has, but Kentucky Democrats do not always vote party in national elections, because many times the nominee is to liberal. KY will vote for Democratic Nominees who are centrist and unafraid to mention the word God. Only 2 Democrats have won Kentucky since1964. Carter and Bill Clinton (twice). But Carter and Clinton also did one very important thing that Mondale, Dukakis, Gore, Kerry and Obama did not do. THEY CAMPAIGNED in KENTUCKY. Imagine that idea?
In the last election cycle, Obama did not come to Kentucky one time during the general campaign, and only once in the primary campaign. Perhaps candidates in the future will understand the importance of campaigning and asking for the vote. Being told that the voters of an entire state are racist because it voted for McCain, when McCains opponent only came here once to ask for the vote is stupid and racist itself.

Divisive politics are a thing of the past (hopefully) and the neoconservative are in the minority with their ideology and lack of intelligence (i.e. Sarah Palin and Joe the plumber). I'm going to get rich saling "I survived the Bush years" T-Shirts!

Once these people realize that everything Obama is planning on giving away for 'free' will actually have to be taken away from someone else, their attitudes will change.

It matters not the color of our party, as we continue to vote along color lines we will continue to see our country flounder. Only when we as a nation have reached the bottom will we be able to see the way out of this darkness of sin we call politics (blue or red). As long as we are voting out of some guilt or for someone because of color or because the new media is infatuated with a concept politician we will continue to fail. We must put the best people in office ....... now ...... where are they?

I'd say thats about accurate. The Republicans keep shooting themselves in the foot. Though Pelosi isn't helping the Democrates any.

The GOP's core constituency, suburban and rural Whites, are declining as a percentage of the US population, as are Whites in general.

When they're gone, the "New America" will find its new and improved New Deals awfully hard to pay for.

Americans are just that. It does take all kinds. Democrats and Republicans are not all that there is. I am an independent, and I am waiting for a REAL Third party for me. I am also a "Non believer" so I don't get caught up in the "Morality" of issues without it being my morality as opposed to what someone tells me is moral. America's new direction needs to be inclusive of all, as the Constitution and Bill of Rights guarantee. As long as we do that, all will be fine, regardless of majority in Congress. Good luck to us all.

Lets see how that map looks in 2 yrs after the next set of elections. Might find a lot of democrats joining their unemployed supporters when the country goes into a depression at their hands.

Its due to Limbaugh, Hannity, Palin, Boehner, and Cantor why the Republicans fail...Get a new House leader and whip, get rid of the right wing talk show hosts, and for the love of god keep Palin in Alaska

It's a matter of education. The Dems are as, a rule, more educated and cosmopolitan than the Repubs. The internet, for better or worse, has increased the number of people with access to information. This information translates to knowledge. Knowledge translates to POWER.

I don't buy it – Georgia still feels red to me .. and a state that re-elected Saxby Chambliss after what he did to Max Cleland has to be pretty darn red.

"A new analysis shows few 'Red States' remain."

I used to be a die hard memeber of the "Red Sate Nation." They are fast becoming regional and irrelevant. The sad part is they either don't know it or they don't get it.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA does anyone else finds that map funny after Bush and Palin?

I could care less about the Democratic party until they prove themselves capable. I hope they succeed but pray they don't become what the Republicans became.
However good to see so many independents, that will put a stop to partisan bickering on both sides maybe we can all be Americans again.

Strange how the more uneducated the population as whole gets (as continually evidenced by lower and lower scores and higher and higher drop out rates) the more democratic voters there seem to be.

Ignorant = Democrat

You're my boy Blue....You're my boy.

"Try not to sound so gleeful about it, guys."

How is that gleeful? The map does indeed show a shrinking island of red states. An unwarranted cynical response to a simple observation by a CNN analyst...

At the end of Obama's eight years America will be PURPLE and all sides will have to work together for the good of the USA
That's my dream...

If Tennessee could look to the future, but we have the right-winged christians running our state. If you do not have a R after your name, you can not be elected in TN. What a shame!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, the republicans will be extinct in 2012. We are tired of conservatives and thier so called values, tax cuts for the rich, and lies. Garin (your wishful thinking). Conservative party are old news!

I might be mistake, because I was just a kid, but wasn't it Reagan that won every single state to become president?

This is nothing new as for a shift in states. In the next 4 years, if Obama fails as a President, you will see a lot of states shifting to Republican states. If not in 4, then in 8 you will see another shift. Its just how the Country works.

As soon as people start opening their eyes and see what is happening, you will have a change. Little by little, the Government is taking over, and before you know it, Government will be running everyones lives telling everyone what they can and can not do. Hopefully the Democrats will stop drinking the kool-aide and realize a Country controled by the Government is NOT what America was created for.

Fiscally conservative, socially liberal – what's our color?

I used to live in Idaho.

It might as well be a SOUTHERN state. Backwoods.

Glad they only have 4 electoral votes.

Until the Republican Party gets out of the strangle hold placed on it by the extreme right, they are doomed.

The present behavior of the Republicans, after receiving much more respect than they gave to the Democrats when the Republicans had complete control truly shows them up. The people can see clearly the obstructionist role which the GOP has adopted. If they did go to Sunday School they did not learn much. The hole which they are digging let us hope that it is big enough for all of them.

A ONE PARTY SYSTEM.
ISN'T THAT COMUNISM / SOCOLISM.
JUST THINK BIPARTISANSHIP EVERY DAY

Yomas,

Yes. the party that is bringing back a failed policy from 70 years ago, seems like the much better choice. Problem is, as an independent, if we don't have two parties in power then some percentage of the population is shut out. This Administration is already showing that bipartisianship means you do what the President wants, which is undoubtedly bad for Americans as a whole, unless your ideology so clouds your judgment that you believe not a single D has ever done anything wrong, including criminal activity.

Lest I remind you of the house banking scandal, both parties were involved there. Greed and stupidty are not new to either party, so we as Americans benefit when they have to work together, not when one party runs the show. For illustrations, see the Bush years and the Carter years. Clinton and Reagan were successful because they had to work together.

Your map is stupid. Most of the deep South states are still very red and voted red in 2008. I don't know why you show them blue or gray. Also, just because you are registered as a Democrat doesn't mean you will necessarily vote that way. I am a registered Democrat who voted for McCain in November. I doubt that I will ever vote for a Democrat again, even though I probably won't bother to change my voter registration unless I change it to Independent. How a person is registered doesn't mean much anymore.

This year's summer blockbuster: EPIC FAIL, starring Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Gilbert Godfried.

There are fewer and fewer people stupid enough to believe that the republican party represents them at all. The republican party is on its way out forever, the world has left it behind.

Thanks for the analysis – it's a wonder McCain came as close as he did.

Reps will recover when they decide to act like grownups and stop governing according to the childish fantasy world of Limbaugh, Hannity et. al.

Just wait until the Dems have had a chance to mess it all up...Bureaucratic socialized health care and a huge increase in the national debt (which they always criticized Bush for!) just ought to do the trick.

At this point the two choice between the two parties is a choice for the lesser of two evils.

As a Democrat I just want to say, "Now we need to keep a closer eye on the Democrats than ever!" The American people can't be asleep at the switch. We have to not treat politics like sports. Don't just root for your team. Keep an eye on them. Always.

Saying Arkansas and Tennessee are blue states is one of the dumbest things I have seen and it immediately discredits this entire study.

Well said, Yomas. Well said!

it's Bush's fault!

hahahaha gop is dead!!!!!!!!!

Instead of doing a state-by-state coloring, how about doing a county-by-county coloring?

John I could not agree more. All fifty states will turn blue if the GOP continues to listen to the right wing minority that has brought America to its knees, and caused us to lose respect on the world stage. I used to be a voting republican. It was a sad day for me when I saw someone I had long admired, Elizabeth Dole, stoop to the level of hate monger of the far right. Stupidity is doing the same thing expecting different results. America is sick of hate and greed, tax breaks for the top 1% of the population. We are sick of idiots like the fat rush and colt in Florida. Yet the GOP seem to hang on to every word while losing seat after seat in both houses. Best thing possible for the DEMs would be for the GOP to put Palin on the ticket and follow all the advice of Limbaugh, Cheney, and Dobson. Smart Republicans jumped ship when they saw the leaders steering the ship full speed straight for the falls.

Lets not get too carried away, this is a cyclic phenomenon. I recall in 1980, Republican sweep, then in 1992 Democratic upsurge and back in 1998 a surge in the other direction, it waned in 2006 and now it is about to peak in 2010 after six years it will swing back to the Republican side. It is just human nature that after a certain number of years we yearn for a change like all else we do in life.

Please, please, please. Some fellow Democrats need to join me in Oklahoma. We have pretty good weather most of the time when we're not dodging tornadoes. We have a pretty strong economy, our cost of living is WAY low, and we have good school systems if you look hard. Please please please. I'm so sick of living in a blood-red state. Please! I need some help here!

If there were to poll again after this week of republican political grandstanding, I'd expect to see even more states turn blue. Way to go Party of No – you're whining your way into obscurity.

Apparently, there is a RUSH of people leaving the Republican party.

John January 28th, 2009 4:13 pm ET

The republican party is doomed. They should all quit, federal, state and local should just abandom there office and leave the democrats in charge. Then the american people can see what socialism is all about!
___________

And what better example of socialism than red state Alaska itself, which takes money from the oil industry and redistributes it to the populace of Alaska once a year. Funny how in all the talks of socialism, no one ever wants to mention that little tidbit.

It was no different than when Dole condemned violent Hollywood movies made by Segall and Stallone, but never once mentioned Schwarzeneggar by name, since he was, at the time, a big Republican fundraiser.

Hypocrisy rules in the Republican Party.

Rush Limbaugh hopes this map fails...

The more the Rethuglican party sees candidates like Palin as "mainstream or the real America", the bluer the country becomes.

How can ANY one of the 50 states possibly still vote Red?

The few that are left have TINY populations making them even more obscure.

You know you can ignore this study simply based on this:

"Just five states — representing 20 electoral votes – had GOP pluralities in the 2008 cycle, as measured in the year-long surveys: Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Sarah Palin’s home state of Alaska were solidly Republican. And Nebraska, which gave one of its electoral votes to the Democratic presidential ticket, was Republican-leaning."

I'm from Oklahoma, the state that gave the largest victory to McCain. Not one of our 77 counties supported Obama. We haven't voted Democrat nationally since the 60's and that's not going to change any time soon. The fact that Oklahoma was left of this list as solidly GOP (or even leaning GOP) shows the absurdity of such studies. It's true that Democrats hold a party affiliation edge here (by quite a large margin), but that means nothing if they vote for Republicans.

Just wait till 2012 when Sarah runs for president there will be a lot fewer red states. If the republicans conduct them selves like they did in 2008 they wont stand a chance in 2012.

This too shall shift. Once a party has the power, they get lazy, lose touch, and get thrown out. The Dems were given up for dead under Reagan. Clinton won the election only to have Congress flip 2 years later. Hey, nothing is permanent. The Dems will screw up, like they always screw up, and it will be our turn again.

I am not surprised, since the Republican party has been kidnapped by the likes of Hannity-the-hater and Limbaugh-the-comedian!

As long as the Republicans continue to spew hate.... lies...... fear and divsion..... America WILL continue to reject their VILE politics!

It is SO amusing to watch Republicans bow down at the "altar of Limbaugh"! They pay him homage........ a man, whom has said, that he
hope the president fails!

GOP=HYPOCRITES

I'm a solid Dem, and I don't buy this. Kansas as competitive? I've lived there, and it's not close to competitive. Oklahoma as leaning Democratic? Sorry, no way. Something's wrong with these results.

Yomas – You said it best – I can hardley think of anything to add.

January 28th, 2009 4:14 pm ET
"Let's see…the party of torture, bigotry, fear mongering, illegal wars and subsequent profiteering, treasury bankrupting, gay bashing, immigrant deporting, religion politicizing hypocrites is losing the support of the nation?"

God has Blessed America with a new beginning.
Now get ready for the Republicants to try and thwart any possitive actions.

Good to see Democrats have know their grammar.

Republicans the party of bankrupting the treasury? How ironic you say that, as the Democrats and Obama prepare to increase our national debt by $1 trillion dollars with their very first bill.

Wow, all this prognosticating based off of polling data...

The only poll that matters is the one held in election booths in 50 states all across this great nation.

History has proven that the president's party ALWAYS loses seats in the midterm (with only a handful of exceptions). 2010 will be 1994. Count on it.

The main reason... REPUBS are inclusive....... no minorities, no educated women... no one speaks out of line... sort of like a fraternity.........or cult...........This election has not shown them anything.....

I was raised in North Carolina and currently reside in Virginia. Each of these states "turned blue" in the 2008 election. I'm sure a lackluster Republican candidate had a little to do with it, but I believe that the constant relocation of people from northeastern states contributed greatly to NC and VA's shift. I realize that neither are among the fastest growing states right now, but there has been an amazing (alarming?) influx of people from the northeast. Having lived in New Jersey and worked in New York City for 5 years, I heard every insult, slight, and stereotype about the south. Then those same people retired and fled the northeast for the south. I don't blame them for leaving, but I sure wish they would have stayed home. For that matter, try going to Atlanta and finding someone with a southern accent. Just a thought.

Keep your eye on Alabama. The 4th fastest growing state in the nation. From where, I wonder, are all the new people are moving.

I was just wondering why the unemployment and government debt is higher in blue states and less in red states. Michigan & California vs. the Dakotas for example. Could it be that we should be more fiscally conservative? It is very interesting to compare the different states based on the last election results and how they are doing now in this economic hardship.

Fine journalism. I mean really well done. Lets see, after an incredibly unpopular President, more people seem to be moving to the opposite party.

Holy Obvious Batman!

Let's see what shifts occur if Obama and the Dems screw it up. Don't forget, in 2002, Bush became the first President ever to gain seats in the mid-term elections of his first administration.

2 years is a long, long way away, but it will be here before we finish blinking.

republicans are on their way out.

And they said the American public was stupid...
And even after all of the significant losses the GOP has sustained they still can't figure out why this is happening. They just don't get it. And they don't know what to do

Here is a tip.

Tax cuts don't create jobs, they never have, they never will. When you cut taxes you just put more money in the pocket of a taxpayer and the way our system is setup, that only benefits the rich.
We had 8 years of deep tax cuts and record job losses. At this point, common sense would tell you tax cuts don't work.

The GOP opposition to Obama's stimulus plan is SO working against them.

Give it 18 months of Obama CHANGE and it will change back to normal.

Just watching CNN – The Republicans want to "go back to basics" -
betting that means slavery, no votes for women, child labor and all the rest of the things from "the good old days."

I always found it odd that the GOP coor is red – as in Red China and the former Soviet Union. I suspect it has to do with their "America -love it or leave it" attitude. Sorry Republicans, Big Blue is staying and it looks like you're the ones that will be packing your bags.

And if the republicans keep playing games and trying to divide the nation the whole country will be blue. So come on folks, keep acting the fools. Keep the racism rampant, and keep listening to Limbaugh, Hannity and Coulter. They love the ratings. All the democrats want is a victory in 2010 that will leave the republican party in shambles for 30 years. All you do is preach morals anyway, while showing a complete lack. Who cares what you and your churches and religions think. Only you the dividers of America.

It will fluxuate like that for years, it's the mood of the country that changes it. I wouldn't be suprised if Obama wins another election, but I think there might be a suprising mid-term election; and quite frankly I think it might be for the better. I've definetly not been impressed as of late :/

When you have nothing new to offer and your public statements consist of nothing but vile and slanderous personal attacks on those who disagree with you, you turn people off. The Republicans have only themselves to blame for their current predicament. They aren't attracting either young or minority voters. It is impossible for a political party to grow under those circumstances...indeed, the only thing that it can do is shrink to a vocal, bitter and irelevant minority.

With better public education we would not have red states at all. Unless GOP break away from extremists and return to moderate responsible conservatism. Which seems nearly impossible now.
My prediction: GOP splits on extremists and moderates. Moderates may survive if some conservative democrats join them. Having said that, I still see much brighter future for us liberals and progressives.

That's right. Run, run from the dark side. There's nothing less Christian than a republican.

New study suggests growing Democratic edge?

That's because of growing Republican stupidity.

There is a God after all.

This map will change significantly after a few years of Obama!

It doesnt appear any analysis was done in Illinois.

Good God, lets hope they go back from whence they came forever. And dont let the door hit them in the a$$.
We need the GOP like we need a boil on our butt.

I believe we will regret the day Obama was elected..........

As long as the "tone" of the Republican party (aka Limbaugh and Hannity) remains divisive and mean-spirited , their losses in once red strongholds will continue to diminish. What they fail to realize is that the generation of the "Strom Thurmonds, Jesse Helms (rest in peace) mentality is dying away(just being realistic and not disrespectful) . This country's diversity is rapidly changing each year and the republican party has mainly invited only one or two demographics to their prom.

If only the Dems could get their ENTIRE party to vote. We'd blow out the GOP in every election.

As long as there are people like Rush L who say how much they love America but clearly hate of Americans, the country will become ..........well......more and more blue. How can Republicans expect to hold onto voters with Christian values when their spokes-people include Linbaugh and Savage who clearly violate Christian principles with their hate and fear-mongerting.

And yet Obama still bothers to show up at their office doors to attempt bipartisan solutions while they continue to spout divisive filth, talk out of both sides of their mouths and plot obstructionism behind the American peoples' backs. One would think they'd be smart enough to realize Obama is giving them the rope to hang themselves and that they're glibly tying it to the ceiling fan. Will they get a clue before Obama grabs them a chair?

Unless the republican party revamp their spokes people they will continue to decrease in population. The world is changing and our melting pot of Americans need to be counted. As long as the Republicans are represented by such people as Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter and Dick Morris, I just don't see how they can overcome the blue. After 8 years of red all AMERICANS need a breather.

Listening to the GOP these last few days makes me think they must like the color blue..because they certainly don't learn anything from their mistakes.

Yes, stupidity and ignornace are on the rise in America.

I remember when Rove (#@(*&^%*&) demanded that we needed a permanent Republican majority in this country. HA HA HA HA

The Bush/Cheney administration, the worst in history, has ruined the Republican party.

If this becomes a County that only wants one party in office, we are all doomed to a dictatorship.

If only Texas would wise up! We have, without a doubt, some of the most dimwitted do-nothing politicians in the country- cough, cough, John Cornyn.

""I mean, it’s easy if you’re Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh or even sometimes Newt Gingrich to stand back and throw bricks," Gingrey told the Politico. "You don’t have to try to do what’s best for your people and your party."... bravely said by one elected Republican ....

Who was promptly was taken to the woodshed by those who worship the commode Rush sits on ... and was made to recant ...

We see elected GOP leaders, solemn and serious about the deficit .. (now) and who can only repeat the old chorus of "tax cuts" ... The GOP
inspires no one, offers ordinary people nothing but more of the same – and although I dislike commenting on how someone looks, they all look like snake-oil salesmen with their country-club tan.

A shift in power, I love it!

I don't mean to gloat, but, WOOO YEAH!!!!!GO DEMS!!!!!!!BEING PROGRESSIVE IS SWEET!!!!WOOOO!!!!!!

How many times have we read how one major party or another has lost influence and that the other party would be dominant for decades? There have been exceptions (e.g., Whigs), but mostly it is a mtter of ebb and flow. I'd like to think conservative Republicans are dwindling in number and influence, but I don't really think the country is becoming increasingly liberal– it has just been plain disgusted with Bush.

The GOP – Whigs for the 21st Century. When you have a party that fielded multiple presidential candidates who REALLY believe the earth is 6000 years old, it's time to call it a day.....

Nothing like 8 years of Republican rule to remind you why you don't want 8 years of Republican rule.

Now if we can just improve our long-term memory capacity....

Texas will be a "battleground state" in 8 years, believe me....They're coming IN by the hundreds !! ( like every day) But my problem is this :
when they have a social security number that is SO real looking, you almost have to hire them.........http://www.kickerillo.com/

Tha map shows Missouri as solid democratic. This is clearly flawed as MO has been extremely competitive for both parties for all statewide elections for decades. As a democrat I'd be thrilled if this map were right but there has got to be something wrong with the methods used here.

Go Grey!

ESPECIALLY – if Sarah Palin is the best that you've got!!!!

Can you imagine HER putting in her 1 1/2 cents during
this economic crisis????????????

But the sad fact is, there were actually some people supporting
her. That's even scarier.

"There are no red states, there are no blue states…"

Well, pretty soon that statement will be half right.

Memo to neo-cons and bible-beaters disregard this poll as it is just another biased poll perputrated by the liberal media to further destroy family values.

Also, please ignore the satellite picture of millions of American citizens that braved 20 degree weather from 3 A.M. 'til noon and when you feel like being an obstructionist, yell louder about cutting taxes and point out how well that has worked for the past 8 years. but at all costs do not offer any new solution, just scream louder about the old tried and true ones.

But most of all, hold those bibles closer to the flag on that puffed out patriotic chest and keep recruiting in the deep South to expand the redneck base.

Do all these things and America will come home to the Republican party in 2010.

enjoy this while it lasts dems....in a few years, the Bush years will seem like the good old days...can you say Carter/Reagan?? "The Messiah" won't be around long

"A string of recent polls have found the GOP’s party ID results have fallen to historic lows, and Republicans facing double-digit deficits on generic congressional ballots."

Jeez, we could've give you that stat many months ago...and by the way, if you should be worried about something is Independents. Independents are rising, we got numbers...and what do Independents believe? Ohh yeah, not what we Conservatives believe...

GO BLUE!

You would have thought the Republicans would have gotten a clue last November4th....but, instead they continue to buck the system at every turn and shoot their mouths off without even thinking of what they are saying. The states are turning blue across this nation and still, the Republicans keep shooting themselfs in the foot. Come next election day, I will NOT vote for any candidate with a (R) behind their name...not even for dog-catcher!

There are no red states, there are no blue states...

Let's see...the party of torture, bigotry, fear mongering, illegal wars and subsequent profiteering, treasury bankrupting, gay bashing, immigrant deporting, religion politicizing hypocrites is losing the support of the nation???

Wow...what a surprise. Way to go American public, you're finally realizing how despicable the Republican Party has become. Congratulations.

This goes along with shifting demographics. We will not always be Republican leaning or Democrat leaning. One thing for sure is that we will all be Americans. Everyone has a different perspective on what is best for the country.

And with the terrible GOP attitude, it will continue to grow. I am glad they aren't that bright, rush and Plain should run for Office in 2012. Go Obama.

At the rate the Republicans are going With Limbaugh and the Gop refusing to work with Obama, That whole Map is gonna turn Blue Pay Att Gop Get out of the stoneages think Anew your tired failed Policies are killing you!

What's ironic is that in the NE lots of liberal people used to be republican and and in the south lots of conservative people used to be democrats. The two parties have swapped who they represent. It has become almost rare to find a true conservative democrat or liberal republican. We need more of them though.

The republican party is doomed. They should all quit, federal, state and local should just abandom there office and leave the democrats in charge. Then the american people can see what socialism is all about!

Thank Goodness the nation is finally coming to its senses!

Check out the census a few years down the road! The demographics of the country will be different too.

A "shrinking island of red states".

Try not to sound so gleeful about it, guys.

One can only hope that the political map color change in favor of the Dems does not get into their heads. If it does, blindness will take over wisdom and the result could be potentially calamitous. The Dems will highly be vulnarable for, perhaps, brutish blunders.

The Republicans, with their big mouths and narrow minds have turned red states a true blue. Sling the mud boys, it turns blue real quick!

The voters waking up.....I hope Rush,, Sean Hanity and Newt keep shooting off their mouths, they have helped the red states turn blue!