[mathwhizz]

>>BTW: The Latino vote was NOT responsible for McCain losing/almost losing Ohio, Indiana, North Carolina, Iowa, and Virginia.>>

Actually, the races were so close in Indiana and North Carolina that the small latino population in both of those states probably put Obama over the top.

[Clemenza]

But why was the vote so close? Because so many WHITE people (more than usual) voted for Obama.

The secularization/"greening" of the upper middle class, along with the proletarians (especially in the upper midwest and northeast) returning to the party where they belong lost it for us.

Your argument would hold water if a 60+ majority (a la Mississippi) of the white vote would have gone to McCain in those states. It didn't. The proles and the "anxious middle class" went for Obama.