USA Today State-by-state coverage

Something kind of cool in the world of political journalism: USA Today recently published on their website a "State-by-state lookahead: What's at stake in 2008."

As a sample of what is covered for each state, here's the blurb for NY:

New York

The last two presidents have been Southerners, but both parties' 2008 front-runners for the top job have New York credentials: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and former New York mayor Rudy Guliani.

A number of potentially competitive House races loom here. Democratic Reps. John Hall and Kirsten Gillibrand and Republican Reps. Jim Walsh and Randy Kuhl could all face tough re-election bids. Hall, of the 1970s pop group Orleans, won his seat from Republican Sue Kelly in 2006, with Kelly facing questions about her tenure on the House Page Board following the Rep. Mark Foley page scandal. Hall hopes voters will think he's Still the One in 2008, with Republicans Andrew Saul, a businessman, and Kieran Lalor, an Iraq war veteran, challenging the freshman congressman.

Kuhl's seat lies in one of the state's most heavily Republican districts, but Democrats consider him vulnerable. Democrat Eric Massa, a Navy veteran, narrowly lost to Kuhl in 2006 and plans to repeat his challenge.

2004 results: Sen. Kerry won the state's 31 electoral votes with 58% of the vote.

After reading the notes about my home state, Illinois, I officially love this feature. It very astutely points out that three major Republicans, including the speaker of the House - Dennis Hastert - are set to retire. Those races will become pivotal in who controls the House. Also in the Ill. post:

Illinois, home to Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, has moved its primary up to Feb. 5.

2004 results: Sen. Kerry won the state's 21 electoral votes with 55% of the vote.

I love the fact that it shows the results from 2004. It gives their coverage context.