Some reliably Republican stalwart states have turned into real battlegrounds this year, in particular, Virginia, North Carolina and even Georgia. After a look at a few southern Senate races that may take an unexpected turn towards the Democrats, analysts discuss what could make the difference for John McCain or Barack Obama in North Carolina and Georgia. This report includes an amusing exchange over ads between the North Carolina Republican incumbent and the Democratic challenger. Long standing Republican Senator Elizabeth Dole accuses the Democratic challenger, Kay Hagen, of not believing in God. Hagen, in turn, responds: "Elizabeth Dole's attacks on my Christian faith are offensive. She even faked my voice in her TV ad to make you think I don't believe in God." Quotes "[There are a lot of new residents in North Caroline and] while a lot of them are Republicans and independents, you might call them Starbucks Republicans. They're more moderate on social issues. They're more open to -- they're not the old-style Jesse Helms Republicans that we're so used to in North Carolina. And they're more open to an Obama." - Rob Christensen, Raleigh News and Observer "If you're only talking likely voters, then McCain pulls ahead, and he's just edging out 50 percent. But if you start to conceive of a voter pool that we haven't seen before, one with much heavier black turnout, with many more young people, then McCain starts to sink rapidly." - Jim Galloway, Atlanta Journal-Constitution "Presidential race in Georgia, I think, is just going to be a matter of whether African-Americans keep up their numbers and, quite frankly, voter fatigue among Republicans. The lines are going to be extremely long, and it's going to be a matter of whether these Republicans stand there." - Jim Galloway, Atlanta Journal-Constitution "The metropolitan areas are going to be very strongly for Obama. And in the countryside and the small town, the rural areas are going to be McCain country, but turnout is going to be the key." - Rob Christensen, Raleigh News and Observer Warm Up Questions 1. Name a few states considered to be in "the South". How do you think they will vote in the 2008 presidential election? Why do you think this? 2. What is "voter turnout"? Why is it important in this election? Discussion Questions 1. Do you think North Carolina or Georgia will vote for Barack Obama? Why or why not? 2. What will happen in the race between Elizabeth Dole and Kay Hagan? Do you think that negative ads can be successful? 3. Write down or discuss stereotypes for the American "South", "East Coast", "Midwest", "the West" -- do you think these stereotypes are fair? Where do they come from? What are some factors changing the divisions within country? Additional Resources Transcript of this report Indepth-coverage: Vote 2008 Electoral College Backgrounder the.Vote original videos