David Gregory Wonders Is West Turning Blue, Discovers Democrats Say Yes

NBC's David Gregory, on the Tuesday "Today" show, wondered if the West was trending Democratic and to find out he asked only Democrats. Analyzing the GOP's '08 Electoral College prospects in the West, Gregory refused to interview any Republicans, instead choosing to interview Democrats as he proclaimed: "Concern for the environment, the partisan fights of Washington and this President's war in Iraq have left many Westerners bitter."

While Gregory did find one voter who expressed some skepticism about Hillary Clinton, NBC's White House correspondent devoted the rest of the segment to Democrats including former Congressman Pat Williams who took the following shot at the President:

Former Rep. Pat Williams: "We think that cowboys don't swagger and cowboys don't pick fights they can't win. So we don't think, despite his acting role, Bush is a real cowboy."

The following is the full segment as it occurred on the October 9, "Today" show:

Meredith Vieira: "This morning on Today On the Trail, go west young candidate, go west. In recent presidential elections the West has been full of red states but now as NBC's chief White House correspondent David Gregory has found the Rockies may be turning blue. David, good morning to you."

[On screen headline: "Today On the Trail: How the West Will Be Won."]

David Gregory: "Good morning, Meredith, it is true, potentially for the Democratic Party. For now the Democratic candidates have their eyes on the early voting states, Iowa and New Hampshire among them. But in 2008 the Democratic Party is, indeed, looking west for political gold."

Eddie Coachman: "Pretty important to protect streams like this in the future."

Gregory: "Eddie Coachman lives and fishes in Bush country, Colorado, a state the President carried twice. But Coachman who's angry oil and gas exploration has invaded this landscape says he is a Republican no more."

Coachman: "Wildlife is under siege in Colorado, big time. I thought the Republican Party was out of sync, I still do."

Gregory: "Concern for the environment, the partisan fights of Washington and this President's war in Iraq have left many Westerners bitter."

Former Rep. Pat Williams: "We think that cowboys don't swagger and cowboys don't pick fights they can't win. So we don't think, despite his acting role, Bush is a real cowboy."

Gregory: "From Montana, down the spine of the Rocky Mountains, Democrats like former Montana congressman Pat Williams say their party has seized on the mood to create momentum, aided by migration from the West Coast including an influx of Hispanics. The governors of Montana, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado are now Democrats, moderates like Bill Ritter who said Coloradans grew tired of the GOP's on emphasis on guns, gays and abortion."

Gov. Bill Ritter: "I mean if you want to find the culture wars they, they will be fought but they will, I think, undermine our chances to tackle those things that matter most to people."

Gregory: "Nowhere is the growing strength of the Democratic Party in the West more visible than here in Denver, where in less than a year the party will hold its national convention. Look at the electoral map. If Democrats can win four states President Bush carried in 2004, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada, the nominee would capture 29 electoral votes. That would mean he or she could afford to lose one of the usual 'must-win' states like Ohio. But can Democrats close the sale? It won't be easy, say observers who argue western Democrats are more moderate and pragmatic than the top three contenders for the White House. Senator Clinton, above all, with high negative ratings, may be the toughest sell, particularly to independent voters like Donna Howe, a mother of two who has questions for her after President Clinton's White House affair."

Donna Howe: "Did she stay with him so she could be where she is now? 'Cause if she did then that might backfire on her, with some women like me, who feel that she should probably [have] left."

Gregory: "Still Democrats see the West in a new light this year, hoping to turn a Republican stronghold into a battlefield. Indeed the region is open to change. Consider this, in Colorado Meredith, one-third of the voters are independents and if you think about the '06 midterm election a lot of those independents broke for the Democratic Party, that's what that party is counting on for 2008 as well."

Vieira: "Alright David Gregory, thanks very much."