Again, here we see evidence that Freepers don't WANT to win Pennsylvania. This is not Massachusetts we're talking about. This is Pennsylvania, a moderate state in the Great Lakes area. Freepers would seemingly prefer not to have to work with anyone north of where Mason meets Dixon anymore.
To this I have three replies:
1) Remember what Zell Miller said to the Democrats about being a national party no more because they gave the finger to the south? You Freepers who constantly give the finger to the north, calling them "Yankees" and whatnot, are also ensuring that the GOP will become a national party no more. You need to stop.
2) This is not 1860, we're not fighting the Civil War over again, so we're all just going to have to learn to get along. If you don't like it, deal. Northerners need to realize the south isn't full of slack jawed yokels. And southerners need to realize that everyone up north isn't a godless heathen bent on hellfire.
3) In an election, the more states/voters you can win, the better you do. It is a GOOD thing to pick a Republican who can win Pennsylvania, not a bad thing.
Karl Rove had a strategy to play to the base and GOTV. He believed that he could win, just barely win, but win with that strategy. He lost the popular vote but won the elctoral college in 2000. He won it all in 2004 against John Kerry - one of the worst candidates the dems could have put up. He lost the House and the Senate in 2006. I don't think that's much of an endorsement for his strategy now that it is clear some 45 - 47% of the electorate identify themselves as independents.
Since 2004 - more people have become independents than have joined either party. That means, to me, that it is time to have a new approach, a new strategy. Rather than, as you say, writing off entire geographic areas - take a new look and see if some of those blue states can be picked off.
This info about PA is worth checking out and doing some further research on, imo. My view is that the candidate who has ideas is the one to watch. The candidate who simply says all the things he thinks the base wants to hear - may well win the base - but no one else. We are living in significant times. America is the only super power in the world! Everything we do and say matters. We need intelligent people with good ideas and the ability to inspire and bring in unaffiliated folks.