Obama Targets the West and South for Presidential Campaign

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama stated last summer during a speech given in New Hampshire, "I am probably the only candidate who, having won the nomination, can actually redraw the political map." With the Republican party barely winning the popular vote in Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada four years ago, if Obama can deliver on his statement and take away those states in the fall, it will go a long way in helping his chances to win the presidential election.

A Boston Globe analysis shows that Obama has a strong opportunity to take the states of Virginia and Colorado in the election, according to Scott Helman and Alan Wirzbicki of the International Herald Tribune. The analysis stated Obama's chances of winning Virginia are strong because of their sizable African-American vote as well as current political shifts within the state. It also stated how in Colorado, there is a current trend towards younger, more liberal voters than in years past.

Six states which Obama has frequently stated he intends to compete aggressively in for votes are Virginia, Colorado, Mississippi, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, according to the Boston Globe's analysis. With those six states representing 66 electoral votes, it will be crucial for Obama's campaign to deliver on his statement.