Pennsylvania voters have good reason to feel special. Months of campaigning culminated in an elevator ride for both presidential candidates across the state. Democratic candidate Kamala Harris wrapped up her campaign tour in Philadelphia. Before that, she was in Scranton, Allentown, Reading and Pittsburgh. Republican candidate Donald Trump, for his part, visited both Reading and Pittsburgh. Although his final stop was Grand Rapids in Michigan. But Pennsylvania takes up more than candidates’ time. The state towered superbly at the top of the news website Axios’ list of where they have spent the most money on advertising. But what makes Pennsylvania, and the people who live here, so special? Donald Trump at the election rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Photo: Brian Snyder / Reuters Dead race towards the finish line Firstly, Pennsylvania is one of the seven swing states where the outcome of the presidential election is very uncertain. It is therefore impossible to predict whether the states will vote for Harris or Trump. As the battle for the voters is not over, this is where the candidates choose to fight the hardest and longest. It seems to be very even in the seven so-called seesaw states. These states have a total of 93 electors. A candidate must secure at least 270 voters in total to win the election.Graphic: Susanne Stubberud Rom / news It seems to be very even in the seven so-called swing states. These states have a total of 93 electors. A candidate must secure at least 270 electors in total to win the election. Graphics: Susanne Stubberud Rom / news But Pennsylvania still stands out when it comes to confiscating the candidates’ time and money, even compared to the other swing states. There are several reasons for this, according to US expert Eirik Løkke at the Civita think tank: – Pennsylvania is measured completely evenly. It is a state that can tip in both directions. That is why it takes a lot of time, he says to news. But this is not the only reason. Can decide the election The other has to do with the USA’s somewhat complicated electoral system. In the United States, the citizens of the states do not vote directly for the presidential candidates. Instead, they elect so-called electors. The candidate who gets more than half of the votes in each state gets all of the state’s electors. The size of the state’s population determines the number of electors. And it is the last point that gives the answer to why Pennsylvania is important. – Pennsylvania is the largest of the swing states. It gives the most electoral votes, which decide the election in the USA, says Eirik Løkke in Civita. Pennsylvania is a large state with regular opinion polls, says Civita adviser Eirik Løkke. Photo: Hanna Johre In total, the USA has 538 electors. To win, one must secure more than half: that is, 270. Pennsylvania has 19 electors. – So those are the two main reasons. That it is extremely even, and that it is the biggest swing state, says Løkke. Because this is fundamentally a game of numbers: – If you don’t win Pennsylvania, it will be difficult to become president of the United States in 2024, emphasizes the US expert. Unpredictable voters At one time, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania were all part of what was called “the blue wall”. It refers to the Democratic Party being associated with blue. It may be that Harris’ campaign therefore believes they have a somewhat greater chance of winning Pennsylvania, despite the even polls, according to Løkke. What exactly is a swing state, and why are they so important in the American election? However, the even polls make it very difficult to predict the outcome of the election. That is according to election researcher Johannes Bergh at the Institute for Social Research. Rarely have you seen such an even poll before an American election, says election researcher Andreas Bergh. Photo: William Jobling / news – There has probably never been an American election before where it has been as even as it is now in the opinion polls, says Bergh to news. – This applies to both the country as a whole, and the measurements in the decisive swing states. Bergh says that in order to win, Harris and Trump must get voters off the couch and into the polling booths. Mobilization has therefore been high on the agenda for both. While the Democrats have often appealed to American workers and minority voters, their vote is no longer equally given, according to Bergh. – At the same time, Kamala Harris wins over several older voters who have previously voted for the Republicans, he says, and continues: – There are movements in the electorate that make it even more unpredictable what the sum of all this will be on election day. Published 05.11.2024, at 14.07 Updated 05.11.2024, at 14.37
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That’s why Pennsylvania is so important – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
