The northeast has not been in play for the GOP in the presidential election since 1988, and even then GHWB lost New York and Massachusetts in a 426-111 Electoral College landslide. With Trump, it might be in play in 2016.
“The northeast has not been in play for the GOP in the presidential election since 1988.......With Trump, it might be in play in 2016.”
I doubt it very much. Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut weren’t as liberal back in those days and Daddy Bush was able to pull in enough Reagan Democrats in those states to win them.
Vermont is the most liberal state in the union now and Connecticut is not far behind. Trump might have an outside shot to to take NH and the one congressional district in Maine.
The area where Trump could do some damage to the Democrats is the great lakes. He should have a good shot at taking WI, MI, OH and PA as well as hold IN