[TomEwall]

"IMHO, ground zero will be in Ohio."

I think it's Missouri.

I think Missouri would go for Kerry before Ohio would, and Kerry could win by taking Missouri while still losing Ohio.

[Clintonfatigued]

You may be right. Missouri will be a key state, no doubt about that. I bring up Ohio because no Republican has ever been elected without winning Ohio. It's an urban legend in D.C. that Republican nominees can't win if they lose Ohio. In 1996, the Clinton campaign made Ohio a top priority because of that tale, and some veterans of that campaign will be working for John Kerry. Also, Ohio has been hit hard by job losses.