by Nicholas Beaudrot of Electoral Math
Last quarter, John Edwards raised the most money from the South [defined by the AP as the Confederacy ex Texas ex Florida], even if you exclude North Carolina [and even if you include Texas, though not Florida]. So while polls show Southern Democratic voters exhibit only a mild preference for their regional candidate, Southern donors continue root for their favorite son.
Update: Check out Rep Jack Kingston (R-GA) sounding rather despondent: "'I think people are just not that fired up, the intensity level just isn't where it should be'". Awww, poor guy. I feel for you, I really do. Also to those who think the South will be in play, all the GOP has to do to end that is put a bona fide Southerner on the ticket. Since Haley Barbour (R-MS) is probably out of play because of his for for Big Tobacco, and Jeb Bush (R-FL) for other reasons, I think that leaves Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC) or a Southern Senator as the most likey choices.
