Why Is Ohio So Important In Political Elections?

[Reuben]

I keep hearing the words "pivotal", "decisive", "swing-state" in reference to Ohio in nearly every election. Can someone tell me why?

[Yoger_09]

Nice post.

[kunsgnos]

There are many factors... I'll name a few:"swing-state": in terms of demographics, there tends to be a close split betewen Republican-leaning and Democrat-leaning voter. It is not the only "swing" state. "pivotal" / "decisive": in Presidential election, Ohio has enough number of votes(20 out of 534) to make a difference when the election is close. So in short, while Ohio is not the only swing state, it is one of the more important swing states because it carriers more votes. In the 2006 election, its senate seat is one(out of 6-8) of the contested seats that could decide which party control the Senate. If you believe in destiny and past performance: Ohio has gone to the winner of the Presidential election in all but two contests since 1892! More about Ohio demographics Ohio's demographics cause many to consider the state as a microcosm of the nation as a whole. The most solidly Democratic areas of the state are in the northeast, where the CIO unions organized the big factories, including Cleveland, Youngstown, and other industrial areas. George W. Bush lost the area 55%-41% in 2000; Bob Taft carried it by only 49%-48% in 2002; Bush lost it by a 54%-46% margin in 2004.  Southwestern Ohio, especially the suburbs of Cincinnati, Warren County, Butler County, and Clermont County is particularly Republican; it is a more diversified industrial area, never so dependent on big industries like steel, tires and autos. Its population George W. Bush carried this part of the state 56%-40% in 2000 and 60%-40% in 2004 and Bob Taft carried it 65%-31% in 2002.

[Creedon]

Ohio considered a "battleground" state as it has a wide mixture of peoples, which can go either way(D or R) "Ohio is a battleground state because it has a relatively high population and thus electoral votes, but more so because it is an remarkable microcosm of the nation as whole - a mixture of urban, rural, suburban, Democrat, Republican, industrial, service, agricultural, etc, etc - it is a bellwether as well as a swing state."Obviously depending on which side(Republicans or Democrats) are better at getting out the vote will determine which way Ohio goes(red or blue) Sources: http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/10/12/125828.php ThisSpaceForRent 87 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[baigh]

"Ohio is a battleground state because it has a relatively high population and thus electoral votes, but more so because it is an remarkable microcosm of the nation as whole - a mixture of urban, rural, suburban, Democrat, Republican, industrial, service, agricultural, etc, etc - it is a bellwether as well as a swing state."Obviously depending on which side(Republicans or Democrats) are better at getting out the vote will determine which way Ohio goes(red or blue)

[Tavin]

Hmm, there are many factors... There are many factors... I'll name a few:"swing-state": in terms of demographics, there tends to be a close split betewen Republican-leaning and Democrat-leaning voter. It is not the only "swing" state. "pivotal" / "decisive": in Presidential election, Ohio has enough number of votes(20 out of 534) to make a difference when the election is close. So in short, while Ohio is not the only swing state, it is one of the more important swing states because it carriers more votes. In the 2006 election, its senate seat is one(out of 6-8) of the contested seats that could decide which party control the Senate. If you believe in destiny and past performance: Ohio has gone to the winner of the Presidential election in all but two contests since 1892! More about Ohio demographics Ohio's demographics cause many to consider the state as a microcosm of the nation as a whole. The most solidly Democratic areas of the state are in the northeast, where the CIO unions organized the big factories, including Cleveland, Youngstown, and other industrial areas. George W. Bush lost the area 55%-41% in 2000; Bob Taft carried it by only 49%-48% in 2002; Bush lost it by a 54%-46% margin in 2004.  Southwestern Ohio, especially the suburbs of Cincinnati, Warren County, Butler County, and Clermont County is particularly Republican; it is a more diversified industrial area, never so dependent on big industries like steel, tires and autos. Its population George W. Bush carried this part of the state 56%-40% in 2000 and 60%-40% in 2004 and Bob Taft carried it 65%-31% in 2002. Sources: My knowledge, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio, http://election.nationaljournal.com/states/oh.htm   Video An excerpt of a documentary about the swing-state nature of Ohio   Video A peek of Ohio politics: TV commercial for Rick Smith(D) in the 7th Ohio Senate District . orion_orange 87 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.