. The Hillreported that the GOP is banking it's comeback on retaking the mountain west. While I would be naive to assume that every seat out here is safe, that some won't turn over--some will, there's definitely been a paradigm shift. Even before the 2008 convention, Democrats had established a strong presence in the Rocky Mountain West.
It goes without saying that Republicans are out of touch with most people in this country, but in the Mountain West it's especially apparent. Sure, Colorado Springs has Focus on the Family and large concentration of military personnel making it appealing for Republicans--a lock would be a better term. However, most people in the state, if not in the region look down on Focus on the Family. Republicans have not done themselves any favors by promoting the re-christianization of America.
Land use is not mentioned much but a critical issue (in the region). Republicans give lip-service to the notion of environmental issues, but in reality they don't get it. They don't understand why someone would want to preserve land or why people might be opposed to half-baked ideas like oil shale.