[DanUCSB]

I think both maps have value. The first in that it shows rather dramatically the tremendous rural/urban divide in American politics. Compare, for example, my own state of California. Blue dots for the cities, red everywhere else.

The second is indeed a more nuanced map. It's better at showing the relative distribution of voters across America along party lines, but in one way it fails: our electoral system is an either/or proposition; you're either red or blue, with no purple in between.

We must also remember, of course, that no matter how the counties look, our presidential election is decided upon a full-state basis.

And on a petty note, it is nice to see that me and RL aren't the only Bush voters in this damn state.