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'''Swing states''' in a presidential election are [[state]]s in which neither the [[Republican]] nor [[Democratic]] candidate has a clear majority of the voters' support prior to a Presidential election, and a victory by either candidate in these states could swing the overall result in his favor. They are also known as "battleground states" because they are where the majority of the campaigning takes place for both parties.  

'''Swing states''' in a presidential election are [[state]]s in which neither the [[Republican]] nor [[Democratic]] candidate has a clear majority of the voters' support prior to a Presidential election, and a victory by either candidate in these states could swing the overall result in his favor. They are also known as "battleground states" because they are where the majority of the campaigning takes place for both parties.  

States that consistently express a preference for the Democratic presidential nominee are known as "blue states"; states that consistently vote for the Republican presidential candidate are referred to as [[red state|red states]].  Swing states are sometimes called "purple states" because either side might win in a given year.  Super PACs will likely spend millions of dollars in negative ads in these states.  (A "negative ad" is a television advertisement that criticizes your opponent rather than praising yourself; negative ads are usually more effective than positive ones.)

States that consistently express a preference for the Democratic presidential nominee are known as "blue states"; states that consistently vote for the Republican presidential candidate are referred to as [[red state|red states]].  Swing states are sometimes called "purple states" because either side might win in a given year.  Super PACs will likely spend millions of dollars in negative ads in these swing states.  (A "negative ad" is a television advertisement that criticizes your opponent rather than praising yourself; negative ads are usually more effective than positive ones.)

Here are the key swing states for the [[Presidential Election 2012]]:  Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia.  In a presidential election, each state has "electoral college votes" in proportion to how many congressmen that state has.  The winner of a presidential election is not decided by who receives the most votes nationwide, but by who received the most electoral college votes.  Each state is winner-take-all with respect to the state's electoral college votes.  In 2000, Al Gore won more overall votes than George W. Bush, but Bush won the election because he won more electoral college votes.  Article II of the U.S. Constitution establishes the office of president and this process for electing a president.

Here are the key swing states for the [[Presidential Election 2012]]:  Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia.  Romney and Obama have very close poll numbers in these states.

The swing states have a total of 100 electoral votes.  A total of 270 electoral college votes are needed for a presidential candidate to win the election.

 

 

Article II of the U.S. Constitution establishes the office of president and this process for electing a president.  The swing states have a total of 100 electoral votes.  A total of 270 electoral college votes are needed for a presidential candidate to win the election.

== The Legislative Branch ==

== The Legislative Branch ==