Why you need to win the Mississippi River states in 2008

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Thursday June 01, 2006 · 10:41 AM PDT

2006/06/01 · 10:41

Quick: Name the states that border on the Mississippi River.

Answer: Take a look at the map. There are ten states that border on the river: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Now consider this: after the election of 1900, no party has won the White House without winning a majority of those states.

I suppose everyone has a mental image of the people in those states. Or maybe not -- it isn't like they're all the same. Are you kidding? Wisconsin and Arkansas? Minnesota and Mississippi?

Whatever it is, and knowing what you know now, pretend you're the Democratic candidate for the White House. Go ahead -- try to figure out what you're going to say to the residents of those ten states. There's a lot riding on it -- history shows that the candidate who connects with these voters is the one who wins.

In fact, I'd go so far as to say that those 10 states should probably be the core of your national campaign strategery. And if not, then talking their talk should be the core of your message strategy.

Food for thought.

P.S. Did I say food? Well then, the proof's in the pudding:

2004: Democrats won 3 of the 10 Mississippi River states
2000: 4 of 10
1996: 9 of 10
1992: 9 of 10
1988: 3 of 10
1984: 1 of 10
1980: 1 of 10
1976: 8 of 10
1972: 0 of 10
1968: 1 of 10
1964: 8 of 10
1960: 6 of 10
1956: 3 of 10
1952: 4 of 10
1948: 8 of 10
1944: 8 of 10
1940: 9 of 10
1936: 10 of 10
1932: 10 of 10
1928: 3 of 10
1920: 4 of 10
1916: 6 of 10
1912: 9 of 10
1908: 5 of 10
1904: 5 of 10
1900: 6 of 10 -- the last time Democrats won a majority of the Mississippi River states and lost the election for President

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