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'''Swing states''' 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 therefore could "swing" the election results in either direction. They are also known as "battleground states" because they are where the majority of the campaigning takes place for both parties. Since states that consistently express a preference for either the Democratic of Republican candidate are usually referred to as [[blue state|blue states]] and [[red state|red states]], repectively, these states are also called "purple states" in order to highlight their mixed demographical nature.

'''Swing states''' 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 therefore could "swing" the election results in either direction. They are also known as "battleground states" because they are where the majority of the campaigning takes place for both parties. Since states that consistently express a preference for either the Democratic of Republican candidate are usually referred to as [[blue state|blue states]] and [[red state|red states]], repectively, these states are also called "purple states" in order to highlight their mixed demographical nature.

'''It is expected that hundreds of millions of dollars in negative ads by [[Super PAC]]s will be spent in these swing states in the fall of 2012'''.

'''It is expected that hundreds of millions of dollars in negative ads by [[Super PAC]]s will be spent in these swing states in the fall of 2012'''.

 

Here are the key swing states for the [[Presidential Election 2012]], ranked by likelihood that [[Barack Obama]] will lose them despite winning them in 2008.  These eight swing states will have a total of 122 [[Electoral College]] votes in 2012.  ('''''In 2008 Obama won by a margin of only six of these states'''''.)

Here are the key swing states for the [[Presidential Election 2012]], ranked by likelihood that [[Barack Obama]] will lose them despite winning them in 2008.  These eight swing states will have a total of 122 [[Electoral College]] votes in 2012.  ('''''In 2008 Obama won by a margin of only six of these states'''''.)