Les Jones

A couple of problems with this cart. First, it seems that the gain/loss is expressed in absolute numbers rather than as a percentage. Second, it ignores how blue or red the states are. Florida and Nevada, two of the top three gainers, are only marginally red, and I expect that the growth will probably drive them into blue territory (in particular, the GOP's stances on social security and immigration have a good chance of costing them Florida anyway). Third, New York and Florida effectively cancel each other out, since all those New Yorkers moved to Florida for the weather. :)

Agree on the changeability of some of those blue and red states.

As far as how people moving from blue to red states will affect national elections, I think it is an open question. If I had to bet, though, I'd say it isn't the true-blue liberals moving from New Yawk to a state where George Bush's brother is the governor and it's easy to get a concealed handgun permit. :-)