The South Shall Matter Again?
As reported by The Hotline:

In certain moments of candor, and later regret, we've heard Dem candidates and strategists proclaim that their party doesn't need to win in the South in order to win the WH. While mathematically true, it's never a good idea to take an entire region off the table. And John Kerry's recent travel schedule (KY, FL, AR) and ad buys (in LA) suggest his campaign certainly hasn't.
Smokin': The strategy may be more than the feint some GOPers see it as. In KY yesterday, Kerry made it a point to talk about his support for a federal buyout of tobacco quotas. (#7) It's something that's popular with tobacco-state framers and politicians alike and an issue where Pres. Bush recently ran afoul of them by voicing his opposition.
Trade Ins: In the Carolinas, Bush faces continued problems on trade even within his own party, as pointed out again in the Wall Street Journal. (#3) With FL in the mix, the Kerry campaign has one solid battleground in the South, with sudden openings elsewhere in the region.