If Alaska and Hawaii aren't in the "West," I don't know where the heck they are. They sure aren't in the Northeast, South or Midwest.
Examples of American imperialism, those dirty capitalist dogs!
They're not in the continential U.S., direction is realitive. Look at all the freepers here who said "I will NEVER vote a candidate from the EAST COAST", but supported George Allen for President because they said Virgina doesn't "count" as the east coast. (they also said "you can never trust ANY Republican from New England", but apparently lifelong Conn. resident Ann Coulter doesn't "count") And then there's the question of whether Maryland and Florida "count" as southern states.
The point is CONSERVATIVE Pawlenty won re-election as Governor in a state that went Gore/Kerry. The only other Governor to pull that off in 2006 was Don Caliceri of Rhode Island.
The last two electoral counts were extremely close, showing we can't afford to lose a single state we got in 2000 and 2004. I am tired of conservatives thinking we're going to waltz into the White House by running a candidate in an ultra-Republican state who's either never had serious competition or who barely eeked out a win in a "safe Bush" state. If they have trouble in a red state, how the hell are they going to carry the WHOLE country? It's Bob Dole and Barry Goldwater all over again. Do they WANT the Dems to win or what?