PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A census report due out today will likely weaken Pennsylvania’s congressional clout and perhaps make it more difficult for Democrats to be elected.

The bottom line is this: as the population of the US shifts south and west, so do congressional seats.  St. Joe’s history professor and political observer Randall Miller says re-apportionment will probably cost Pennsylvania one seat while some predictions are that Texas will gain four.  Given the Republican edge in the last Pennsylvania election, there’s another facet.

Miller says, “Re-apportionment not only relates to that loss but it means redrawing the congressional districts, gerrymandering, if you will, which is a fine art going back to the 1790′s and the idea there is that the parties that control redraw districts to benefit themselves.”

The shift in congressional seats moves the needle on Electoral College muscle in the 2012 presidential vote.

Reported by John Ostapkovich, KYW Newsradio