Just because it would be so cool.

I was browsing Pollster.com and noticed some really interesting things.

One thing that made my heart glad was the chart you see. This “poll of polls” of Bush’s approval versus disapproval rating shows how, every day in every way, Bush is being seen more clearly as the worst thing to happen to America since Columbus. (The visual flourish was added to the chart as my editorial comment.) Even McCain is trying to run against him.

I’m not sure a change now will actually make any difference. The damage Bush has done goes too deep. I seriously think he might have killed us all, but we haven’t stopped thrashing around on the ground quite yet. But there is some part of me that feels a little better knowing that, at least he won’t get away with it completely.

Another thing I noticed is that, at least at this point in time, Obama’s got it in the bag.

There are some serious “unknowns” but they tilt in favor of Obama as well as McCain.

One “unknown” is the fact that most surveying is done by phone but cell phones aren’t included in most surveys. There very well could be a structural error built into surveys because the majority of these unsurveyed people think alike. If that’s the case, however, it’s in Obama’s favor. Cell phones are used by young people; people open to new ideas; highly mobile and technically aware people. These are all people who are more likely to vote for Obama. McCain’s basing his whole campaign around “small town” values. You can’t even get cell phone service in some of his “small towns.”

Another “unknown” is called the “Bradley Effect.” It’s named after Mayor Tom Bradley who lost his 1982 bid to become California’s first black governor even though the polls showed him to be as much as 9 points ahead before the election. This could be a problem for Obama. We’ll have to see. It would really be (another) stain on America if it did happen. But it’s balanced by the likelihood that non-whites are going to vote in numbers never seen before. It was this kind of voting by the religious right that put Bush in a position where he was able to steal the 2000 election.

But the thing that sparked my attention the most was the main chart at Pollster.com. There’s a neat rollover effect built into it that allows you to quickly check the state-by-state polling for Obama versus McCain.

So, here’s the question: “Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Which state is the reddest one of all?”

Could it be McCain’s home state of Arizona? How about the nuts of the north in Alaska? A deep south state still fighting the Civil War?

No, no, and no again. It’s dear, home-sweet-home, Utah.

Arizona: McCain – 51.4% — Obama – 38.9%

Alaska: McCain – 55.0% — Obama – 39.7%

Alabama: McCain – 57.5% — Obama – 35.3%

Utah: McCain – 63.9% — Obama – 29.6%

The trend is clearly in Obama’s favor overall. Things are getting worse for McCain, not better. If things keep on keeping on, Obama’s gonna win. But just how big will he win?

My fantasy is that he’ll carry every state, even Arizona and Alaska, and leave only Utah as a red pimple on the map.

I dunno. I just think it would be kinda cool.