REPORT: Pennsylvania, Ohio Voters May Decide Election
The Presidential election is shaping up as a very close contest. Depending on which poll you read, McCain or Obama has a slight lead in the popular vote. What many voters (and most newscasters) forget is that we have an electoral college system. Each state delivers a certain number of electoral votes (usually, but not always, “winner take all”).
According to Electoral-vote.com, if the election were held today, Obama would capture 273 Electoral votes, compared to 265 for McCain. 270 votes are needed to win. The charts display predicted electoral vote outcomes in all 50 states.
But the race see-saws — just yesterday, McCain had the edge in electoral votes, 265 to 252. The difference was Pennsylvania. Interestly, Pennsylvania (21 Electoral votes), just yesterday was listed as “exactly even”, meaning it could swing Democratic OR Republican.
In the latest poll Pennsylvania is “Barely Democratic”. As goes Pennsylvania, so could go the Electoral College. Ohio is another key state. In recent Presidential elections, the result in Ohio nearly always predicted the eventual winner. Ohio is “Barely Republican” right now.
Message to Voters in Key ‘Swing’ States (Pennsylvania This Means You!)
Important states like Pennsylvania and Ohio could swing on a few thousand votes. Pennsylvania has a large population of shooters and hunters. If the hunters and sportsmen come out and vote in large numbers, this could determine Pennsylvania, and that, in turn could put McCain in the White House rather than Obama.
Other key states where the votes of hunters and outdoor sportsmen could shift the balance are: Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and New Hampshire. These states are now listed as “Barely Democratic” with a 3% margin of error in the polls. Quite literally, if hunters and shooters go to the polls in strength, a few thousand more Republican (red) votes could change the election. And consider this, if the tiny state of New Hampshire (whose motto is “Live Free or Die”) swings from “Barely Democratic” into the Republican camp, the loss of those four (4) electoral votes would drop Obama from 273 to 269 votes — below the 270 required to win.
LESSON: In the key states, hunters, shooters, and supporters of gun rights CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. If just one “Barely Democratic” state swings the other way, that could determine the outcome of the election.
The differences between the two Presidential candidates are great. The path this nation takes in the next four (or even eight) years will be very different depending on who sits in the Oval office. Will that be John McCain or Barack Obama? Pennsylvania shooters — it may be you who answer that question!
Charts syndicated via electoral-vote.com. Visit Electoral-Vote.com for daily updates.
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This article seems greatly geared in getting reps to vote for McCain over gun issues. Is there something wrong with Obama’s stance on the 2nd Admendment? Ive done the research, checked the voting records, McCain is NOT the man we need. Its more than guns ladies and gentlemem, its about time this country woke up and realized that..
I can’t believe this is all about guns! Hunting and shooting are non issues when compared with the global impact the result of this election will have. Obama is the man to lead the most powerfull nation in the world into a new and challenging future. McCain is not anywhere near the class of leader imho.
Moderator, I can’t believe you are pimping a candidate on this site. I have no problem with who people vote for, that is what makes this country great, but for you to impose your reasons to vote for someone is very unprofessional. You have an excellent site here and that article belongs somewhere else. Don’t misuse your power, you will lose alot of respect. Sal
If someone thinks this election is about the needs of shooters, hunters or gun rights advocates or if they think this election hinges on their vote, they’re out of touch with the real concerns of our citizenry.
You forgot to tell us John McCain’s middle name.
Freakin racist BS.
Stick to shooting.
My point in running this story is to remind readers that, under our electoral college system, with “winner take all [the electors]” in most states, the results in a single state can make a big difference.
Pennsylvania appears to be a key “battleground” state and it also happens to be a state with a high percentage of hunters and sport shooters. Some of those sportsmen may have concluded that their votes won’t be important in the grand scheme of things. This report seems to indicate otherwise. One way or another Pennsylvania voters may have a big impact for WHICHEVER candidate they choose.
Certainly, every American registered voter should weigh all the relevant factors in reaching their decision. It is simplistic to chose a national leader based on one issue — whether that be gun rights, or stem cell research etc.
Nonetheless the stance of the candidates on gun control is certainly relevant to the activities discussed here. In my home state, California, AR-type rifles are now banned outright. Even registered ARs are severely restricted in how and where they can be used and how they must be stored. Joe Biden wants to extend that ban nationwide.
I think it’s safe to say that the people who visit this website have a strong interest in shooting activities and gun rights. It is an undeniable fact that Barack Obama and his V.P. selection Joe Biden are staunchly anti-gun. Obama has an “F” rating on gun issues from the NRA, and Biden was one of the authors of the original “assault weapons ban” and he has vocally expressed that the 5-4 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in Heller v. D.C. is wrong.
Voters should consider how the make-up of the Supreme Court could change in the future depending on which party wins the Presidency. Right now, four members of the High Court were willing to effectively read the Second Amendment out of the Constitution in the Heller case. Biden has been in the Senate long enough to vote on all 9 justices now on the Court. Biden voted to confirm only ONE of the five justices who upheld the Second Amendment in Heller v. D.C., yet he voted to confirm ALL four justices who sided against Heller.
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Racism? Personally I don’t think Obama’s race matters at all. His stance on the issues, his level of expertise, and his voting record (or lack thereof) are what counts.
Obama’s middle name has been widely used in literature from his own campaign and by the media. McCain’s middle name, Sydney, has not. But, since Tripcrow thinks this reveals some bias, I’ve deleted Obama’s middle name. I find it curious that a story which does not show a photo of either candidate, which does not once use the words “racial”, “white”, “black”, “caucasian” or “African-American”, which does not in any other way discuss (or even reveal) either candidate’s race is challenged as racially biased.
Dosnt seem like we got very many republicans posting comments… I think the point mod`s trying to make is we got the right to vote but we dont have the right to cry if we dont. If anybody thinks that a guy who wants to take away the gun rights from the people of this country would be a good president, they are pretty ignorant.
[Taking] Offense to this posting by the web site owner bothers me. I say what I please in my house, and those who are offended may leave. Matters not that I agree with the editor….His yard, his ball, his rules.
This is an important election, and the choices may not please everyone, but, the choice is clear. I intend to do all I can afford to elect John Sydney McCain.
Editor, hang in there.
While it’s reasonable to point out large differences in the stances of candidates on firearms issues it is incomplete to do so without also pointing out the abysmal environmental record of the Republicans. Unfortunately, on the firearms issue, we’re choosing between those who favor additional restrictions on firearms possession, and those who support reductions in places to use them. While the Republican candidate is strongly pro-gun, we might find ourselves shooting or hunting in the latest clearcut.
On the last issue–loss of hunting grounds, the matter is not as simple as it may appear. You should check the record of Republican legislators at both the state and Federal level, working with organizations such as Ducks Unlimited and NSSF, to expand wetlands and dedicate more tracts within the National forest system to hunting.
As well, in many jurisdictions, notably California, Democrats have spearheaded efforts to restrict “huntable” areas of public land and close long-established shooting ranges. In my county alone, three ranges have been closed in the last three years as the result of Democrat Party local and state officials. And Democratic Congresspersons sponsored legislation to ban hunting in the Channel Islands National Park… which ironically led to the need to hire professional hunters from New Zealand to reduce the non-native feral pig population–something that cost the tax-payers half a million dollars.
While it certainly is true that Republican leadership can be faulted on many environmental issues, it is overly simplistic to say that the Democrats have been the protectors of “places to use [firearms].” In many cases, just the opposite is true, particularly at the county and statewide levels.
On the gun issue, this election is a slam dunk. This IMO goes far beyond the NRA’s ratings of F for both Obama and Biden. When I watched Barak Obama in his own words (while being interviewed by Rick Warren) say he would not have nominated any of the current conservative/traditionalist judges on the Supreme Court, that sealed the gun argument for me. Had GW Bush not installed Alito and Roberts, the DC gun ban would still be in place. Furthermore, the 2nd amendment would still be open to interpretation as a collective (state operated militia) right. The DC v. Heller ruling is truly a landmark that would not have been possible had John Kerry nominated the last two justices. The Supreme Court nominees matter the most as they can pay dividends (either way) long after a President leaves office.
I realize that gun rights are only one piece of the puzzle for some folks, but as for me, I vote freedom first.
Finally, I was amused when someone above said that Barak Obama was the man to lead this country forward into a new and challenging future. Says who? His campaign? His stump speech? I agree with B Obama on NOTHING.
Either way, election season talk is cheap, the cheapest there is. B Obama has two years of experience and NO history of leadership on any issue anybody cares about. Even the most ardent Obama supporter can’t claim his candidacy holds any more substance than hope.
Sorry for being so candid.
Gabe
I sympathize with you guys in dumb**** states like California who can’t have an AR-15 (what’s the difference between that and 1000 other semi-autos?) or fire FMJ at the range. We have to continue to make it clear to Democrats that gun owners have rights and gun ownership is important to this country’s freedom. But I’m voting on more than just this issue. And regarding one of the major reasons most of us own guns, John McCain is not going to be as protective of public lands or wildlife. I do all my target shooting, all my elk hunting and most of my deer hunting on public land. (I shoot antelope on a ranch ’cause it’s rodent control). Elk need roadless areas and Republicans rarely are in favor of that.
Jon