A memo circulating at the Republican National Committee lays out nine swing states they say President Obama will have a much harder time winning in 2012 than he did in 2008.
“His path to re-election must go back through those states, but his prospects there are far from certain,” RNC political director Rick Wiley said in a memo.
In 2008, Obama won nine states that George W. Bush had won in 2004: Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia.
(Polls indicate economy hurting Obama)
The RNC memo notes Republican gains in those states since Obama took office in 2009, including one U.S. Senate seat, four governorships, seven state legislative chambers and 19 U.S. House seats.
“In only two and a half years, his position in those states, and in many others, has deteriorated dramatically, and Republican strength is in plain view,” the memo states.
Here is the text of the memo:
In Indiana, a state that hadn’t previously voted Democrat in a Presidential election since 1964, Republicans picked up a US Senate seat and two US House seats in 2010, regained control of the State House and added to their majority in the State Senate.
In Virginia, another state that hadn’t previously voted Democrat in a Presidential election since 1964, Republicans regained the Governorship and control of the House of Delegates in 2009 and picked up three US House seats in 2010.
In North Carolina, a state that before 2008 had last voted Democrat in 1976, Republicans picked up both chambers of the State Legislature and a US House seat in 2010.
In Ohio, Republicans held the US Senate seat, regained the Governorship and control of the State House, picked up five US House seats, and picked up three state constitutional offices – Attorney General, Treasurer, and Secretary of State.
In Colorado, Republicans gained control of the State House, picked up two US House seats and picked up two state constitutional offices – Secretary of State and State Treasurer.
In Nevada, Republicans held the Governorship and gained a US House seat.
In Iowa, Republicans regained the Governorship, the Iowa State House and picked up the office of Secretary of State.
In Florida, Republicans held the Governorship and a US Senate seat while picking up four US House seats, the office of Chief Financial officer and adding to their majorities in both chambers of the State Legislature.
In New Mexico, Republicans regained the Governorship, picked up one US House seat and picked up the office of Secretary of State.