Reviewing the blueness of some blue states

Three new polls, all from very Democratic states, all must-win states for the Democratic nominee. If he or she loses California, there is no possible way they will get to 270 electoral votes. And while they can do the math without MA and MD, losing there means they're losing everywhere else. Thankfully for them, Hillary is untouchable in both MA and CA (so much of Rudy's claim that he will make California very competitive), though Maryland appears more competitive than usual. Let's review.

• Massachusetts

Survey USA released a new poll from MA yesterday afternoon, and there is no way the GOP is getting anywhere here. Clinton demolishes all Republican candidates, and Giuliani and McCain barely hold her under 60%, respectively trailing 59-36 and 58-37. What is most remarkable is that this is the state of which Romney was governor for four years as recently as last year, and he is trashed 65% to 31%, much worse than McCain and Giuliani! Fred Thompson is crushed 66-28, Mike Huckabee 68-24, and Ron Paul 67-24.

• California

The California poll was released two days ago, also by SUSA, though I somehow missed it until last night. It shows that in the biggest prize of Election Day, Clinton has very little to worry about. The closest Republican is Rudy Giuliani, but he trails 55% to 39%. McCain loses 56-35 and Thompson 58-34. Clinton reaches 60% against all others: 60-30 against Romney, 63-27 against Huckabee and 63-24 against Ron Paul.

As I already mentioned, California is one of those blue states Rudy likes to argue he would make competitive. A New York poll a few days ago proved he would have no chance whatsoever there. At least he is much closer here... but 16% in California is very hard to move given how expensive the state is, so Rudy is very unlikely to try anything there, just as Bush stayed (mostly) away.

• Maryland

Rasmussen released a poll from Maryland, and the numbers here are uncomfortably close for Clinton. Kerry won the state by 13% in 2004, but Clinton only inches Giuliani by 5: 46-41. She also has a small lead against McCain, 47-40. She leads 49-37 against Thompson and 52-31 against Huckabee. As interesting as the poll itself is Rasmussen's decision to poll Huckabee as the fourth Republican rather than Romney -- demonstrating that Huckabee's inclusion in the top-tier is strengthening. Though I have to admit it is an odd choice to exclude Romney of all people, since many would rate Romney as the favorite of the GOP race at this point (mostly because of stuff like this).