Let's review the 2008 Presidential Electoral map...
http://2008election.procon.org/viewr...ourceID=001953
Although the land area of the red states is quite expansive, it's no secret that the people power lies in solidly blue areas. With each election cycle, the more populous states trend towards the Democratic party (this is also proving to be the case in traditional swing states like Ohio and Missouri).
The lone exception... the one state that Republicans have been able to count on without fail since the late 1960s...
Texas. With a "good ole boy" for a governor and no signs of the abatement of cheap land and a pro-business climate in the future, Texas seems to be a sure bet for the Republicans to stay vital and relevant on the national scene.
But lately, the tides have been changing. Democratic voters are slowly (but deliberately) increasing in number, and spreading their influence much farther than the RGV. Democrats in Texas have finally figured out how to organize in strong numbers. Starting with the major urban areas of Dallas, Houston Austin and San Antonio, Dems are now working overtime to register new voters (of increasingly diverse demographics) and educate the citizenry about the party's goals. Most importantly, Texas has a new class of strong Democratic politicians that have the ability to make a strong showing in the state. What this adds up to is that Texas is about to become a major swing state... much sooner than the Republican party is prepared for.
So the question is this... can the Republican party remain viable without a strong showing in Texas??