Obama shows gains in purple states

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Some analysts say Democrat Barack Obama's U.S. presidential campaign effort in some traditionally Republican states is paying off.

New "purple" states -- neither safely Republican ("red") nor Democratic ("blue") -- appear to be buoying the Illinois senator's hopes, Stateline.org, a state-issues Web site, reported Thursday. New reported purple states Indiana, Montana, North Dakota, Alaska and South Dakota account for 23 electoral votes. In addition, the online site now has moved Florida and Nevada from Lean Republican to Toss-Up, while only Missouri has gone from Toss-Up to Lean Republican.

That leaves Obama able to count on 241 electoral votes as either safe or leaning in his direction, Stateline.org said, while Republican John McCain can count on 200 electoral votes. With 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House, the final vote will turn on toss-up states -- including Colorado, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio and Virginia -- that account for a combined 96 electoral votes.