Thursday, October 20, 2011

Colorado Welcomes Obama Again

President Barack Obama is beginning to spend as much time on the campaign trail as in Washington, a reflection of the trouble Obama is in with voters and the unlikelihood anything worthwhile will be accomplished in D.C.

Colorado is one of his most frequent stops due to its prominence as a leading state that could swing between either party’s nominees.

Although Democrats begin the race with a considerable electoral advantage of 242 in states that have voted Democratic in 5 out of the last 5 elections versus Republicans who can only count 102 electoral votes in that category, it’s the last 28 electoral votes, or slightly more than 10 percent of the total, needed that challenge the Democrats.  Ohio, Nevada, Colorado, Florida, Virginia and North Carolina are at the top of Democrats’ list.


In examining the targeted states, Colorado’s advantage became apparent.  It has 9 electoral votes, almost a third of the final total needed, Obama won it by 9 points in 2008 and it’s gone Democratic in two of five last presidential races – Obama in 2008 and Bill Clinton in 1992.

Although Virginia and North Carolina have more electoral votes, the wins were closer, they only have gone Democratic in one of the last five presidential elections.  Nevada will be a target, but its electoral vote count is tiny, and Ohio, which should be in the Obama column, has been trending and polling away from Democrat.

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