Michael Dukakis, the losing 1988 presidential candidate, might be an unlikely adviser to Democratic 2008 hopefuls. But in a speech posted on YouTube this week, the former Massachusetts governor struck a chord with the growing number of Democrats who are worried their party may be getting too complacent about its prospects of winning next year.

Criticising unnamed Democratic colleagues for focusing only on states they believe they can win - the so-called "red-state, blue-state" division between Republicans and Democrats - Mr Dukakis argued that much of America was in fact purple. Democratic candidates should aim higher.