Gallup Opinion Polls has released their results of the political leanings of America through the first half of 2009.

Watching political preferences with the kinds of graphics Gallup provides are somewhat looking at a weather map. The pattern is always changing.

Candidly, I'm surprised Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma are shown as leaning Democratic instead of competitive. The report notes part of the reason for the change from 2008 is the shift from people identifying themselves as Independents, rather than Republicans. Nevertheless, those who identify as Independents are leaning Democratic, otherwise the shifts would not be occuring.

One can only speculate that the antics of the so-called "Birthers" are adding more impetus to flight from the Republican Party and may provide the impetus for a truly competitive third party.

Here's a link to Gallup's report.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/122003/Political-Party-Affiliation-States-Blue-Red-Far.aspx