South may be in play for Dems

An Associated Press analysis of Census data shows several "red" states in the South actually may be in play for presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama -- if black turnout goes up as much as 30 percent as he pledged last year. According to the story:

"That would add nearly 1.8 million votes in 11 Southern states, the analysis shows, enough to tip the balance in several that have been Republican strongholds.

"'I can tell you that North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama will be in play,' asserts North Carolina Democratic Rep. G.K. Butterfield, an Obama adviser. 'We're looking strongly at Tennessee and Mississippi.'"

"If Obama reached his goal of a 30 percent increase and brought all those new black voters into his fold, he could also win in Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Virginia and Florida. Wins in the six states would give him 81 new electoral votes — enough to beat Arizona Sen. John McCain even if the Republican won almost every other toss-up state in the nation, including Michigan, Pennsylvania, Missouri and Ohio."

Perhaps an early indication that the proof is in the pudding is a recent poll that showed Obama -- amazingly to some -- only six points behind GOP candidate John McCain in conservative South Carolina.