there is at least one other state in play ... Arizona! ... but I suspect, this will only be true only if it comes down to HRC v trump.

Because that would get in the way of the loyalty oaths and tamping down of dissent.

winnable for Republicans.

Obama won Indiana and North Carolina in 2008--something nobody thought was possible.

Demographic changes mean that Georgia and Arizona could very well be in play.

Colorado and Virginia used to be safe Republican states.

Fairfax and Alexandria are blue
Prince William and Loudoun counties are purplish-red

As for the other parts of the state, Richmond and Newport News/VA Beach areas are blue and the rest of the State is red.

When turnout is high, we elect Democrats. When turnout is low, Republicans take over. See Bob McDonald and Ken Cucinnelli.

VA is clearly a swing state.

They base all their arguments on what they would tell their loyal party voters. Independents are not interested in arguments about which party should be in power. Indies are interested in policy and voting records. Indies are interested in how policy actually impacts people in their real, day to day lives such as wages, taxes, cost of education, cost of healthcare, cost of war, cuts to social services, ect. And campaign promises mean very little to Indies. They want to see a politician's voting record that proves they will do what they say they will do.

Some refer to themselves as independent or non-affiliated because they have what they consider to be "middle-of-the-road" positions on various issues. Or because they subscribe to the ridiculous "socially liberal but fiscally conservative" stance.

Others refer to themselves that way simply because they think it gives the impression that they are unbiased, critical thinkers, even though they are basically party loyalists (or because they're Libertarians and just don't call themselves that).

And others refer to themselves that way because they're just extremist Republicans--they're disappointed that the Republican Party isn't bringing back slavery and swapping the US Constitution out for the Bible.

Now, are there Democrats and Republicans who don't think critically and are married to a label? Absolutely. But the suggestion that "independents" are 'above all that' is, quite frankly, absurd.

Being "Independent" seems to be the "in" thing, especially among those that claim to be horrified by the GOP, but they end up voting GOP most of time anyways.

It is a way to be able to smugly wash their hands of their voting patterns.

...Tea Party types like referring to themselves as "independent." So, it's basically a meaningless term.

The Republican nominee probably can't sniff 270 electoral votes without winning *both* Florida and Ohio.

...I suspect I'd get different numbers. 217 seems a little low, but it all depends on how confident one feels about states like Michigan and Pennsylvania. 191 might be about what I would get. Anyway, it'll depend on who the Republicans actually nominate. If it's Trump, we may see an epic blowout.

In 2000, 537 people in Florida changed the course of history. That's all it takes, folks.

Whether you Hillary folks like it or not....it's voters like myself that Hillary need to convince.

Instead of threatening you, calling you names and ordering you to fall in line they should remember that in a few short months they may need you and by then it may be too late.

She can't. Bernie is the only way forward.