Could we see a Democratic electoral strategy that doesn't view Ohio as vital this year?

The question arose last week as nearly presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama campaigned across Western states that Sen. John Kerry narrowly lost four years ago: New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado. Those states add up to 19 electoral votes, which nearly matches Ohio's 20.

"If we win these three states, plus the traditional Democratic base, (Obama) is president," New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson told Washington-based media group Politico last week. "If John Kerry had won these three states and lost Ohio as he did, he would've been president."

While Ohio is still big enough and such a national bellwether that Obama undoubtedly will strongly contest the Buckeye State, some Democrats might be looking at a "Plan B" if Ohio again goes red, as it has in five of the past seven presidential elections. Obama is running behind Republican presumptive nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona in most major polls in Ohio, and the Democrat is getting crushed in the crucial southeastern part of the state.

Supporters of the senator from Illinois say the push in the West is part of Obama's plan to upset traditional electoral math.

The West has gotten special attention from the donkey crowd. Nevada was allowed to cut in almost at the front of the primary calendar; Denver was picked to host the Democratic National Convention.

No candidate has won the White House without winning Ohio since 1960; it's happened only one other time -- 1944 -- since the 1900 election.