Unbreakable Blue Stripe

In every Presidential election since 1968, the vertical strip of states between North Dakota and Oklahoma has faithfully voted Republican. In all but one of these elections, so has Texas, effectively creating a 40 year old Blue Stripe across the middle of America. Could this election break that up for the first time?

Unlikely: in each of these states, McCains lead is in the double digits except N. Dakota, where his lead is within the margin of error. N. Dakota is predicted to go to McCain, however.