A signature of Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential election campaign has been the candidate’s pledge to compete in all fifty states - many of which have long been viewed as hostile toward Democrats. New evidence suggests Obama’s strategy may be working. As compiled by Political Insider, traditional red states that voted mostly overwhelmingly for Bush in 2004 are now swinging toward Obama in 2008, a serious threat to McCain, who can’t afford to lose the Republican base. Here are the numbers from Political Insider:

Montana: Bush won by 11 points in 2004; Obama leading McCain by 5 points
Colorado: Bush +4, Obama +5
Virginia: Bush +8, Obama +2
New Mexico: Bush +1, Obama +3
Florida: Bush +5, Obama +2
Indiana: Bush +20, Obama +1
Georgia: Bush +16, McCain +1
Mississippi: Bush +20, McCain +4
Alaska: Bush +26, McCain +4
North Carolina: Bush +13, McCain +4

Already plagued by what some critics have termed “sluggishness,” the McCain campaign will more than likely be forced to devote critical time and resources to states that Republicans have long considered “safe.” Stay tuned…