Why is there only a couple "key"states

[Shawn White]

Why are these the only states that seem to matter? If it went off of population then CA and NY would have these states out numbered?

The media talks about a specific few states meaning so much, so does every other states vote even concern the candidates?

[gman0046]

I find it interesting that the majority of states supporting Obongolo are on both coasts while the entire South and middle America are Romney supporters. Read an article recently saying that most Americans want to live with and be surrounded by like minded people. I believe the Electoral College map supports this theory. I'm just glad I live in the heart of Dixie the conservative NW Florida Pan Handle. I still have not seen a single Obongolo roadside or yard campaign sign while Romney signs are everywhere. The Pan Handle is not south Florida it is a Republican strong hold and we're proud of it.

[BonMallari]

because of the electoral college.....and if you look at the electoral college map, both coasts are solid D(blue) whereas the heart of the country are R(red) states

[Uncle Bill]

Why are these the only states that seem to matter? If it went off of population then CA and NY would have these states out numbered?

The media talks about a specific few states meaning so much, so does every other states vote even concern the candidates?

They are called that because they aren't considered to be in any one camp, and have an electorate that can be 'swung' to whichever party that provides them with:

1)..as in the case of the Democrats, the most goodies, or that suits their ideology, although they don't call it that, because they don't live by ANY ideology. The don't consider being gay, or in favor of food stamps and the government taking care of them an ideology. in other words, they have no pride, and are hardly understanding of what made this country what is has been.

2)..as in the case of Republicans, which also includes the RINOs, that vacillate because they also have some peccadillos, such as being against the religious right, or being 'log cabin' individuals, or women that are not right to life believers.

3)..and of course many in those states are the so called Independants, or moderates, or what I like to call them, middle-of-the-roaders, with the mental picture of what that conjures up as a critter runs down the middle of the road. The Independant is the largest club of vacillators, having primarily the philosophy of voting for the individual, and what that individual espouses and how it will suit that persons needs, never mind that that individual must go along to get along once they have been elected, so it again becomes a vote for the party and that parties beliefs.

4)..and finally, a state becomes a 'swing' state because they have voted in the past for whichever candidate was able to sway them to vote...subsequently that state has no consistant core to vote one way or the other, so the candidates spend most of their time and money trying to 'swing' them to their way of thinking...if not for any ideological reason that will keep them in the party, at least for the moment when they make their selection on the ballot.

As you might recognize, a lot of real important actions are being done by the willy-nilly minds of voters that don't have any reasoning behind those actions, just a whim. Thus you have what happened in '08. God forbid that should happen again, because these whimsical voters will cause this nation to fall into further deterioration and eventually anarchy, much like Greece, Spain, and those other PIIGS in Europe. When the ruling class is under socialistic beliefs, a nation cannot continue because the have-nots, and the SFN crowd will have run off the producers, and you'll have the classic case as is portrayed in the book and movie of Atlas Shrugged.

We are with this election, teetering on that wall like Humpty Dumpty. If Obama and his regime succeed in controlling this nation, Humpty Dumpty will fall, and this countries fools that have put in this messiah will discover, too late, that he and "all the king's men", will be unable to put this nation together again. If you were a part of that cause, I just hope you have the answer for your offspring when they as why this is happening.

UB

[Gerry Clinchy]

Why are these the only states that seem to matter? If it went off of population then CA and NY would have these states out numbered?

The media talks about a specific few states meaning so much, so does every other states vote even concern the candidates?

The large states often have mega-cities that sway their total electoral votes one way or the other. And the force of those numbers keeps the whole state state in one camp or the other. True of Pennsylvania cities of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg.

It is interesting which states are those that determine the outcome ... states which have more balance in their overall population. With Obama's stance on coal energy, I'm stunned that it might go blue in voting. Same for PA. Back in '08 when energy prices were lower and there was hope that the employment picture would change, people didn't pay much attention to Obama's "war on coal" ... that is not the case this time around. And the announcement of new EPA regs coming up could not have come at a worse time for Obama.

It seems that the Ohio race would not be so close were it not for Obama's coal stance. And then these guys are wondering why even PA is now in question? PA has just gotten an economic lifeline with natural gas resources, and EPA is getting ready to snatch it away with regs on fracking.

[Didley]

I think it's really interesting that no Republican candidate has ever won without Ohio's vote.

[luvmylabs23139]

I think it's really interesting that no Republican candidate has ever won without Ohio's vote.

Everyone keeps saying that but nobody ever mentions the decrease in electoral votes Ohio now holds.
At one point they had 25 while now they have 18.

[hotel4dogs]

Not the entire middle of the country is red...I live in IL, blue as blue can be. The big sucking hole (Chicago) carries the state, and those of us who prefer the red party are in a minority.

[gman0046]

I happen to have several good friends who live in Illinois. Fortunately they don't live anywhere near Chicago. I feel sorry for them and anyone else who lives there. Just think how great a state it would be if the sewer Chicago were removed and sent somewhere else.

[hotel4dogs]

The people of LA love the people of IL, because our politicians are the only thing that keeps them from being the most corrupt state in the nation. We don't even have to worry about term limits here because our politicians don't stay out of jail long enough for them to serve that many terms.
Why anyone would put any politician from IL into a national office is beyond me.
I live in one of the collar counties, which is the 6 counties that surround the city of Chicago and have to support it and its big sucking black hole of financial woes. Are you volunteering to help move Chicago to FL?

I happen to have several good friends who live in Illinois. Fortunately they don't live anywhere near Chicago. I feel sorry for them and anyone else who lives there. Just think how great a state it would be if the sewer Chicago were removed and sent somewhere else.