The 2012 presidential race will see Barack Obama competing vigorously in some of the states he turned blue in 2008 with burgeoning Hispanic populations, like Nevada, Virginia and North Carolina, as well as others that were out of reach but are seeing even larger growth in the Latino community, like Arizona and Georgia.

On the flip side, Indiana, and perhaps Ohio, struggling in the still-lagging economy, may be tough holds. While his victory would appear likely to be narrower than the 365-electoral-vote rout of 2008, his poll numbers are relatively strong considering the unemployment rate; Ronald Reagan’s approval rating dipped as far as the mid 30s, a good bit below Mr. Obama’s low-point, before he soared to a rout of Walter Mondale in 1984 on the back of an improving, if still sluggish, economy. [Washington Post]