If you have broadband, take a look at this.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/gis/atmapall....

For those that don't, it basically shows that death rates among elderly males and elderly females are biggest in the South, and in the Midwest, respectively.

Let's take a look at the exit polls, which we know are flawed, but which are can still speak qualitatively.

2004 Overall            Bush    Kerry 
18-64 (84%)	        51.00%	48.00%
65 and Older (16%)	52.00%	47.00%
				
2004 EAST				
18-64 (87%)	        42.00%	57.00%
65 and Older (13%)	51.00%	49.00%
				
2004 MIDWEST				
18-64 (86%)	        51.00%	48.00%
65 and Older (14%)	55.00%	45.00%
				
2004 South				
18-64 (84%)	        59.00%	40.00%
65 and Older (16%)	54.00%	45.00%
				
2004 WEST				
18-64 (79%)	        49.00%	49.00%
65 and Older (21%)	49.00%	50.00%	

So, while the Dems stand to lose as the grits and pork rinds take their toll on the old folks in the South, everywhere else it either barely matters, or, especially among older women in the Midwest, the Republicans lose their base. Between now and 2008, 15-20% of those in the 65 and older bracket will no longer be with us.

As far as the South goes -- well, it isn't exactly critical to the Dems except for FL.

The Midwest will go pretty solidly blue if the Republicans don't start working on the youth now. Despite the bombastic, self-congratulatory, egotistic streak they hold as a generation, boomers aren't going to sour to the conservative side at quite the rate their parents did. Some had a reactionary shit fit when they had kids, but they'll recover.

So don't go thinking the campuses are just the next thing on the right's agenda after the oval office, senate, and house. This is a timed move upon which rests their political fate. They won't let up, because if they get beat there (and we manage to repair the voting system) it is game over for them for a while. They'll have to wait for power to corrupt the Dems to the point where there is backlash in order to get any traction.

So that's why, in case you are wondering. They've been doing their `ritmitic.

(Not to mention big business needs its higher-educated droids to be obedient and free from "defects" like a sense of social conscience.)