Its not just me. In comparing this democratic primary to Clinton vs. Bush senior it makes sense. You have the well known non-charismatic established politician, he is from the northeast. Going against him you have the lesser known charasmatic southerner. I realize the primaries are a different thing. But going into the actual Presidental election I'm sure many democratic strategists are concerned about the fact that Kerry is an old school old money northeasterner going against a would be "charsimatic southerner" in Dubya. Who do you honestly would have an easier time carrying the southern vote Sparhawk, Kerry or Bush? Granted as pointed out, you don't need the south to win the election, but as a trend no elected president in the last 50 odd years has won the office without the southern vote.

If Bush were a democrat, still ran his campaign the exact same way he did in 2000, same issues, everything. The democrats would STILL lose all the south. Voting party-line is an automatic thing down there.

But I agree that we need a President that can start pulling the south back into contention. Someone who can at least boost other democratic candidates for elections in the south. Hopefully take back one of the legislative wings in the process before 2008.

I think 'The South' is in contention no matter which Democrat we put in there. There are possibilities in plenty of states, like LA, TN, VA, WV, and FL to pick from, not to mention a couple that have shown Democratic trends, like NC. I disagree with Superbelt about party-line voting - I'm pretty sure that trend has gone down *everywhere*, including 'The South'.

Gore won the election without winning the South. Florida is the key, since it is not a traditional southern state. If Kerry can win what Gore won, and pick up Florida or Ohio, he wins both the popular vote and the electoral college. It would certainly be easier if the Democratic candidate could win some of the south, but at this stage of the game it seems unlikely even if Edwards is the nominee.

Well, Edwards could take either or both Carolinas.

But I think that is about it.