McCain and Palin push into blue America

When the presidential campaign started, Republicans were on the defensive and Democrats were talking about pushing beyond their usual comfort zones.

In theory, that meant targeting states like Colorado, Virginia, and possibly even Montana or North Dakota.

That effort isn’t dead: Barack Obama is still running dead-even with John McCain in Colorado and Virginia, states that have voted Republican in recent years.

But John McCain has also reversed the game-plan, pushing deep into Obama’s territory.

With the help of Sarah Palin’s surprising appeal, the GOP ticket has fought its way to par in Michigan, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania.

Republicans are only five points down in New York state.

Critics question the McCain campaign’s tactics for achieving those results: negative campaigning that even some conservatives have cringed at.

But the truth is that the go-ugly message has worked, even in states that were considered hostile to the Republican message.