Mississippi & the "Electability" Arguments

Per my post from a few days ago, I just wanted to point out today that Mississippi -- the state that is holding a primary today -- is a state that is exactly the kind that a Democrat could flip in a general election against a non-southern Republican like John McCain.

Take a look at how Bill Clinton lost Mississippi in 1992 by just 9 points and then in 1996 by just 5 points. Those are margins that are far from overwhelming -- and arguably surmountable in a general election against a non-southern Republican candidate who already has problems with his base.

So as networks are declaring Barack Obama the victor in MIssissippi and you hear pundits or Clinton officials claiming that Mississippi is not "significant" because Democrats have no chance to win in places like Mississippi, just remember the actual history here. It wasn't that long ago that Senator Clinton's own husband almost won Mississippi. Perhaps everyone should check the historical record before writing off whole swaths of the country.