Obama Woos Key Western Swing States

Barack Obama is touring the Mountain West, Politico reports, territory advisers believe could be crucial in the general election. At stake are Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada, states George Bush won by small margins in 2004—and in which the GOP has since lost popularity, especially on immigration and among Hispanics.

“If we win these three states … he is president,” asserts New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. Obama’s best shot might be Colorado, which has recently seen a Democratic revolution and where he leads John McCain in polls. Arizonan McCain might have a regional advantage, but Obama hopes that by August's Denver convention, he’ll have won over Hillary Clinton-supporting Latinos—and brushed up on his Spanish. (More Barack Obama stories.)