Obama puts more states into play than Clinton. She argues that she wins the "big states," but that means little when looking toward the fall. Just as Clinton could reasonably expect to win Obama's Illinois, he can just as easily win the typical Democratic strongholds that Clinton won in the primaries - New York, Michigan, New Jersey, and California (in fact, he now polls stronger in CA than she does, and MI is a non-starter as an argument for her candidacy). Obama also polls as well against McCain as Clinton does in PA.

Clinton does poll better than Obama against McCain in the swing states of OH and FL, but the Democrats would be foolish to base their November electoral strategy on these two states in any scenario, given the way things have played for them there in the last two election cycles. And this is where Obama's electoral advantage becomes very, very clear.

Obama closes the margin with McCain in places that Clinton never will - those "red states" that she ridicules as meaningless in Obama's primary and caucus wins, as well as some smaller swing states that could make the difference for the Dems margin of victory in November. With Obama, you get Iowa, Colorado, Wisconsin, Minnesota, as well as much stronger assurances of wins in Washington and Oregon. Plus, there are possibilities of wins in places like Virginia and North Carolina (whose combined 28 electoral votes trump FL's 27).

While Obama does trail Clinton by wide margins in a few deeply red southern states, those truly are states that neither Dem will win against McCain. But to see him poll within 5 points of McCain in Alaska? That's an indicator that something new is available in an Obama voter coalition. That coalition is simply not available to Clinton, who would be playing for the same electoral map that has disappointed the Democrats too often in the post-Goldwater years.

I really tend to agree with you on this! There are Democratic Party strongholds that either would win, and Republican strongholds that neither will budge.

Fergodsakes let's don't let it come down to FLORIDA!!! :) And I LIVE here!

I just want to be able to vote - have it counted once - and then celebrate!

I hadn't seen the CA numbers, but that makes sense to me. I feel sure CA would go with Clinton OR Obama, but when California gets on board it will be huge for a Dem victory.