I think it was a recognition that the Democrats were putting EVERYTHING in to Ohio over the last year. And it's possible that we might lose even WITH Bush traveling to Ohio (for the record, I expect to win there). So they had to do an end-around and make sure other Gore states come in to play. The Democrats haven't put nearly the effor in to the five states that Bush now leads slightly in that Gore won. Not only CAN Bush win without Ohio... many pundits are now predicting that's exactly what WILL happen.
Excellent point. Bush & Rove - master strategists! OH=20 EV, WI=10, NM=5, MN=10, IA=7. Sounds like a good trade-off to me.