West Virginia

Outlook: Solid Republican

5 Electoral Votes (5 in 2000)
Bush won in 2004 by 12.86%

West Virginia has long been a quirky state politically, with Democratic domination of both Senate seats in Washington, two of the state’s three congressional districts, the governor’s mansion and both state Houses. Meanwhile, it helped to elect Republican George W. Bush with a six-point margin in the state in 2000 and a margin of 13 percent in 2004. This peculiar trend may continue in 2008, especially since Hillary Clinton is not the Democratic candidate. While her husband won the Mountain State’s five electoral votes in 1992 and 1996, and she dominated the primary there, Barack Obama will likely attract fewer West Virginians.