Was 2008 a realigning presidential election?

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

9. It matters more on the candidate than ideological shifts

Not only did we have a GREAT candidate in 2008, but the Republicans had BAD candidates, especially for Vice-President. Same in 2012. For all the support President Obama lost in late 2010 and throughout 2011, support for the Republicans who were elected in 2010 tanked. Now put President Obama up against someone like Mitt Romney, and that electorate where only 45% approved of him was now ready to give him 4 more years.

There are A LOT of people in this county that may be registered with a particular party, but they may consider themselves the opposite, or they may be easily swayed. Case in point, in the state of Oklahoma, one of the most conservative states in the nation, the number of registered Democrats outnumbers registered Republicans. When was the last time a Democrat won Oklahoma?

Democrats can still hold onto power and continue to make gains so long as we continue to nominate good candidates who appeal to a broad spectrum of the electorate, and so long as the Republicans continue to nominate people who like to talk disparagingly about 47% of the electorate or old white men who talk about rape.