Minnesota has become a battleground in a presidential campaign that has dramatically tightened nationwide.
A new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll shows that the race is now a dead heat between Barack Obama and John McCain, each supported by 45 percent of likely voters in the state.
The new poll likely will stoke both sides' efforts during the final 51 days until the election, triggering a barrage of advertising, grass-roots politicking and, potentially, stepped-up visits by the candidates.
The poll found that McCain has made gains across the board since a May Minnesota Poll that showed him trailing by 13 points. He has picked up considerable support among men and to a lesser degree among women. He also has boosted his standing with whites, young voters and all levels of household income and education.
A quick back of the envelope calculation tells me that if Ohio continues it's trends, Michigan remains competitive, and Minnesota falls...
Well, let's put it this way. McCain wins Ohio (likely) and Minnesota (possible) he can afford to lose New Mexico and Colorado and still end up with 275. If he wins New Hampshire, so much the better. Oh yeah, McCain's doing better in Washington (- 2), too, probably thanks to Dino Rossi and Sarah Palin.
