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=== New England ===

=== New England ===

[[Barack Obama]] was almost certain to win almost every state in this region, which tend to be very [[liberal]].  The only exception is in New Hampshire, where [[John McCain]] was well liked and George Bush won in 2000.  This state was expected to be competitive.  On the other hand, with only four electoral votes, the impact on the election would not have been as great as some other battleground states.  McCain lost every state in this region, even New Hampshire.

[[Barack Obama]] was almost certain to win almost every state in this region, which tend to be very [[liberal]].  The only exception is in New Hampshire, where [[John McCain]] was well liked and George Bush won in 2000.  WHile, this state was expected to be competitive, it also had only four electoral votes, meaning the impact on the election would not have been as great as some other battleground states.  McCain lost every state in this region to Obama, even New Hampshire was lost 45% to 54%.

=== Mid-Atlantic ===

=== Mid-Atlantic ===

[[New York]], [[Delaware]], and [[Maryland]] are solidly Democrat and will vote for Obama this election.  [[New Jersey]] is less so, but still has Democratic leanings, and will probably go for Obama. [[Pennsylvania]] is a very important swing state for both candidates, as it has 21 electoral votes, fifth most in the nation, and has both liberal and conservative elements.  In recent years, the state has moved toward becoming Democrat.  However, it is not yet at the point that is safely in the Democratic camp, and will still be focused on heavily by both candidates during this election cycle.  McCain still has a very good chance because Obama was unable to connect with the working-class citizens of Pennsylvania during the Democratic primary.   

[[New York]], [[Delaware]], and [[Maryland]] are solidly Democrat and were expected to vote for Obama this election.  [[New Jersey]] less so, but still had Democratic leanings, and was expected to go for Obama. [[Pennsylvania]] is a very important swing state for both candidates, sice it has 21 electoral votes, fifth most in the nation, and has both liberal and conservative elements.  In recent years, the state had moved toward becoming Democrat.  However, it was not yet at the point that is safely in the Democratic camp, and was still focused on heavily by both candidates during this election cycle.  McCain still had a very good chance because Obama was unable to connect with the working-class citizens of Pennsylvania during the Democratic primary.  However, again McCain proved unsuccesful and was defeated in Pennsylvania with 44% to 55%.

=== South-Atlantic ===

=== South-Atlantic ===

[[Washington, D.C.]] is overwhelmingly liberal and will vote for Obama; however, with three electoral votes its significance is limited. Although [[Virginia]] has usually been Republican territory in Presidential elections, this year it has become a competitive state.  Democrats will work on increasing the voter turnout in the northern part of the state, with a high population of D.C. transplants.  McCain's strength is in the southern regions and among the military.  In the Carolinas, which usually votes Republican, McCain is seen as having the edge, but Obama may be competitive in these states if he mobilizes the African-American population.  [[Georgia]] is a state where a third-party candidate [[Bob Barr]] could make a difference.  While most voters favor McCain, he could lose enough votes to Barr to lose the state, especially if there is a large black turnout.  [[Florida]] is a very close swing state, most famously known for its role in [[United States presidential election, 2000|Election 2000]].  An important constituency in this state is the [[Jewish]] population, who are continuing to support Obama over McCain.  Cuban-Americans, who are most upset with Obama's statements that he would meet with Fidel Castro, back McCain.

[[Washington, D.C.]] is overwhelmingly liberal and would vote for Obama; however, with three electoral votes its significance is limited. Although [[Virginia]] has usually been Republican territory in Presidential elections, this year it became a competitive state.  Democrats worked on increasing the voter turnout in the northern part of the state, which has a high population of D.C. transplants.  McCain's strength is in the southern regions and among the military.  In the Carolinas, which usually votes Republican, McCain was seen as having the edge, but Obama could have been competitive in these states if he could mobilize the African-American population.  [[Georgia]] is a state where a third-party candidate [[Bob Barr]] could have made a difference.  While most voters favored McCain, he could lose enough votes to Barr to lose the state, especially if there was a large black turnout.  [[Florida]] is a very close swing state, most famously known for its role in [[United States presidential election, 2000|Election 2000]].  An important constituency in this state was the [[Jewish]] population, who had continued to support Obama over McCain.  Cuban-Americans, who were most upset with Obama's statements that he would meet with Fidel Castro, backed McCain.  McCain succeeded only in Georgia and South Carolina, losing to Obama in D.C., Florida, North Carolina and Virginia.  Obama barely won North Carolina with not even 51% of the vote.

=== Deep South ===

=== Deep South ===

John McCain will do well in the deep south.  This includes the states of [[Texas]], [[Alabama]], [[Mississippi]], [[Louisiana]], [[Oklahoma]], [[Arkansas]], [[Tennessee]], [[Kentucky]] and [[West Virginia]].  This area is generally [[conservative]], and consistently vote Republican in Presidential elections.  Although Obama believes in a fifty-state strategy, it is unlikely that such a strategy will be helpful in getting out the vote in these states apart from the black population.   

John McCain was expected to do well in the deep south.  This includes the states of [[Texas]], [[Alabama]], [[Mississippi]], [[Louisiana]], [[Oklahoma]], [[Arkansas]], [[Tennessee]], [[Kentucky]] and [[West Virginia]].  This area is generally [[conservative]], and consistently vote Republican in Presidential elections.  Although Obama believed in a fifty-state strategy, it is unlikely that such a strategy will be helpful in getting out the vote in these states apart from the black population.  McCain every state in this area the closest being Texas were he won 12 electoral points ahead of Obama.

===Swing States (Great Lakes Region)===

===Swing States (Great Lakes Region)===

Strategists believe that the Republican presidential nominee must win Wisconsin or Minnesota, and hold Iowa but that the outcome in New Mexico, which has only 5 electoral votes, is irrelevant.  Minnesota's margin of victory for the Democrats in 2004 probably places it out of reach for Republicans in 2008.  This is confirmed by recent polling.  However, due to the location of the Republican Convention in Minnesota, the state, with ten electoral votes, can come back into play.

Strategists believed that the Republican presidential nominee would have to win Wisconsin or Minnesota, and hold Iowa but that the outcome in New Mexico, which has only 5 electoral votes, would be irrelevant.  Minnesota's margin of victory for the Democrats in 2004 probably placed it out of reach for Republicans in 2008.  This was confirmed by recent polling.  However, due to the location of the Republican Convention in Minnesota, the state, with ten electoral votes, could have come back into play.

=== West ===

=== West ===

Barack Obama is almost certainly guaranteed a win in the coastal states of California, Oregon and Washington, while John McCain is favored in Arizona, Idaho, Utah and Texas. Nevada, which voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004, may turn to Obama if Bob Barr manages to pull enough votes from McCain.

Barack Obama was almost certainly guaranteed a win in the coastal states of California, Oregon and Washington, while John McCain was favored in Arizona, Idaho, Utah and Texas. Nevada, which voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004, but could a have turn to Obama if Bob Barr managed to pull enough votes from McCain.  Obama pulled out in California, Oregon and Washington as expected, but also gained Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico.  McCain held onto most of the other states.

===Other Important Swing States===

===Other Important Swing States===

Moreover, it is very important for republicans to hold Ohio and Florida.  Fortunately, both states have tended to lean republican in the last two presidential elections.  Although Florida was disputed in election 2000, it went to Bush undeniably in 2004.  Virginia will also be heavily contested this year.

Moreover, it was very important for republicans to hold Ohio and Florida.  Both states had tended to lean republican in the last two presidential elections.  Although Florida was disputed in election 2000, it went to Bush undeniably in 2004.  Virginia was heavily contested this year.

== General Strategy ==

== General Strategy ==