Chunk 2: Swing States: does everyone in the US put their keys in a giant hat?

When last we met, I was talking about how, in the US Electoral College, each state is awarded votes based on its population, and that the presidential candidate who ends up with the most total votes wins, right?

Well, here's something very strange: during this election, some of the states with the largest populations, and thus the highest number of electoral college votes on offer, will basically be ignored by the candidates. WTF?! I hear you abbreviate.

Here's why. Let’s, for argument's sake, look at New York ("concrete jungles where dreams are made of ..."). It offers 29 electoral college votes, which, in just one state, is more than 10% of the 270 votes you need to become president. So you’d expect Trump and Biden to be campaigning there like crazy right? But hell’s no.

That's because in the last 15 elections (since JFK won it in 1960) New York has voted for the Democratic nominee 12 times. Donald Trump only managed 36.2% of its vote in 2016. It's what they call a solidly blue state. (Blue for Democrats, red for Republicans.) 

By contrast, look at Alabama ("Lord, I'm comin' home to you ..."). It offers 9 electoral college votes, and in the last 14 elections (since Barry Goldwater won it in 1964), has voted for the Republican nominee 12 times. Hillary Clinton only managed 34.4% of its vote in 2016. It's what they call a solidly red state.

So why waste precious time and resources on states that you know you’re not likely to win anyway? What the candidates are really interested in are what they call the “swing states”, the states that could be swayed to vote either way. You might also hear them referred to as the “battleground states”. They're the ones who are receiving all the attention. 

States like Arizona (11 electoral college votes), Florida (29), Michigan (16), North Carolina (15), Pennsylvania (20) and Wisconsin (10). None of those are especially loyal to either party. They’re the slutty states.

Just look at Florida, that frisky minx. During the last 7 elections, it has voted for the Republican candidate 4 times, and the Democratic candidate 3 times. So who it might go for is a toss-up. Whether remotely or in person, Floridians should expect to see a hell of a lot of Trump and Biden over the next few months.