Gallup has a new survey out which shows that, in terms of partisan affiliation, the number of "solid" Democrats states is down by half since they conducted a similar survey in 2008.  The same survey also showed the number of "competitive" states almost doubling.

They point out that every state (including the District of Columbia) now has fewer people identifying themselves as Democrats, or even independents who "lean" Democrat.  Interestingly, the greatest percentages of declines came in Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine and Hawaii.  Hawaii aside, those others represent the north-eastern states where Republicans had been becoming a rare species.

In terms of numbers, "solid" Democrats states went from 30 in 2008 down to 14 today, while competitive states went from 10 up to 18.

From the poll:

Looking more closely at the changes in state party affiliation since 2008, only one state moved from a Democratic positioning to a Republican positioning -- New Hampshire, which was solidly Democratic in 2008 but now is considered leaning Republican. Alabama, Kansas, Montana, and South Dakota moved from a competitive designation to solidly or leaning Republican status. A total of 12 states -- Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin -- shifted from solidly or leaning Democratic to competitive. No states have moved in a more Democratic direction since 2008. (A listing of each state's classification for 2008, 2009, and 2010 is available on page 2 of this report.)

Gallup has documented the decline in Democratic Party affiliation at the national level from its recent peak in 2008 and early 2009. After several years of increasing Democratic affiliation beginning in late 2005, the current political situation is similar to what it was in the mid-2000s, when the parties were more or less even. ...

So, whatever can we point to as having changed things since early 2009?  What could poeple have been paying attention to since then that gave them a different impression of Democrats?

Of course the answer is "take your pick".  Bailouts, more bailouts, (and auto-worker bailouts), "stimulus", more "stimulus", ObamaCare, another two to three trillion in debt, etc, etc.