Red + Blue = Purple

There's alot of discussion on the internet debunking the concept of a red and blue state America. Here's a map of the U.S. that shows allegiance to Republican and Democratic candidates in a more nuanced way, showing that most states are actually purple -- a mix of red and blue:

Click the image for a larger version. Thanks to BoingBoing via Daily Kos for the map and concept.

The idea is that Democrats can successfully appeal to a wider range of demographics if we frame our discussions of issues to emphasize our common ground and shared dedication to moral values that have always been in the democratic mainstream.

Nancy G. suggested what looks like an excellent book on the myth of a polarized America, which emphasizes how much common ground we all share, despite the recent emphasis on certain wedge issues by right-wing Republicans:

Culture War? The Myth of a Polarized America

Authored by one of the most respected political scientists in America, Morris P. Fiorina's Culture War? supports a compelling narrative with polling data to debunk commonly believed myths about American politics -- particularly the claim that Americans are deeply divided on fundamental political issues. His use of figures and statistics visually engages readers and dispels common misconceptions about politics. This unique text examines controversial topics such as abortion and homosexuality and finds that even on these issues 'culture war' is a myth.

Here's the Amazon link.