Bird's Eye View

The media has its favorite states that are deemed important -- the battleground states that may make a huge impact in November. But when you walk around Denver, a different hierarchy emerges.

States in heavy contention, like Michigan, have gotten prime space on the Pepsi Center floor, and local coverage of where delegations are seated is a hot item on blogs across the country.

"Oddly, the delegation from New Jersey - a reliably Democratic state - is right next to Texas. And the choicest spots ... go to the Midwestern swing states that may decide this thing..." the Dallas Morning News' Trailblazer blog wrote last week.

But regardless of where they are on the floor, state symbolism - from the lais of Obama's home state, Hawaii, to the pink flamingo sunglasses at the Florida delegation breakfast - plays a huge role in giving a sense of each state's heritage, and also where they fall in importance to the party.

To get a bigger sense of where the delegates are seated, NYTimes.com's floor map gives a good overall picture of where the delegates are sitting and why - nothing is random.