The 5 political lessons of 2004

As per the Wall Street Journal's John Harwood:

• The key to winning the White House might not be in the middle.
  
• Wartime pessimism may not doom public support.
  
• Twenty-first century Democrats can compete financially with Republicans.
  
• For a Democratic resurgence, look Southwest.
  
• Pop culture has become big politics -- advantage Republican.

The "Southwest" to which Harwood refers is one and the same with the "Mountain West" I've mentioned before. I tend to agree with him on his other findings as well, but you should check out the rest of the piece for his reasoning.