50 state strategy

Consider this map of the 2004 presidential vote by county.
















Nebraska is 100% red, yet its two Senators are a moderate Republican (Hagel) and a moderate Democrat (Ben Nelson). And if you look at Maine, it is mostly blue but its two Senators are moderate Republicans (Snowe and Collins). My point is this that kos is correct in his assessment that presidential candidates need to avoid a battleground states-only strategy. He is wrong, however, in his assessment that the Democrats can do that by running nationally on a leftist agenda. The reality is that, these days, only a party that nominates a moderate can be competitive everywhere.

This ain't rocket science.

(For cross-post at Centerfield and comments posted there, click here.)