The 2010 census report coming out Tuesday will include a boatload of good political news for Republicans and grim data for Democrats hoping to re-elect President Barack Obama and rebound from last month's devastating elections.
The 2010 Census Bureau report will show a continuing shift from Democratic-leaning Rust Belt (manufacturing belt) states to Republican-leaning Sun Belt states.
The nation must reapportion the 435 House districts to make them roughly equal in population, based on the latest census figures.
The biggest gainer will be Texas, a GOP-dominated state expected to gain up to four new House seats, for a total of 36.
The chief losers — New York and Ohio, each projected by nongovernment analysts to lose two seats — were carried by Obama in 2008 and are typical of states in the Northeast and Midwest that are declining in political influence.
Democrats' problems don't end there.
The November lections put Republicans in control of dozens of state legislatures and governorships, just in time to influence how states redraw their congressional and legislative district maps.
As the report points out, this is often a brutally partisan process, and the Party in control will create new districts to their liking and now it will be Republicans in control in many more states.
LinkThe combination of population shifts and the recent election results could make Obama's re-election campaign more difficult.
Each House seat represents an electoral vote in the presidential election process, giving more weight to states Obama probably will lose in 2012.
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