2012 electoral map — as it stands

Reuters ^ | April 21, 2011 | by James Pethokoukis

[library user]

~ EXCERPT ~

This is how 2012 looks right now to elections guru Larry Sabato:

Here is how the math works: Include the “Leans” states with the “Likely” and “Safe,” the numbers are as follows: 247 Democratic EVs,  180 Republican EVs, 111 Undecided. Just counting “Likely” and “Safe,” the numbers are as follows: 196 Democratic EVs, 170 Republican EVs, 172 Undecided.

Of the tossup states, I would give the Rs IN (11), FL (29) and certainly at least one of VA, NC or OH. Some Leans D in the Upper Midwest are vulnerable, too.

[RC one]

Walker’s favorability has tanked since he started spending hard won GOP political capital on union busting. Kasich too. We’ll see what happens but my guess is that we sacrificed 2 easy senate seat pickups and 28 EVs and probably a whole lot more. Honestly, I don’t think it matters if we run Trump, Palin, Romney, or Mickey Mouse.

[kingu]

I'm not endorsing Trump by any stretch, but IMHO, it's conceivable that he could take both NY and FL.

That's what keeps me thinking on Trump. How many races would liberals have to abandon to sink tens or hundreds of millions of dollars to hang onto solid blue states. How many real conservatives can I get elected into the House and the Senate while the Democrats prop up Obama, and the Republicans don't have to prop up Trump?

Not going into this thinking I'm going to get backstabbed, I know what Trump is. I know who he is. I don't think anyone would be fooled by Trump (and if they were, they probably wouldn't be surprised either...) The question is: Unlike a typical RINO president, can this (somewhat) outsider actually spark some RINOS in congress to actually challenge the White House, or will they be lining up to pledge their support along with fellow Democrats against those nasty conservatives in Congress?

It doesn't keep me awake at night, but it does keep me thinking.

Oh, and Palin... Fight like a girl, throw down, and challenge. Because in my mind, if Trump is in there, that's undercutting the Huckster and 'I love mandates' Romney, leaving open the field for you to shine.