Eight days to election. I indulge in reading the tea leaves about the two presidential candidates’ standings from USA Today:
National average
Biden 51.4%, Trump 42.9% (Biden +8.6). Last week: Biden 51.9%, Trump 42.1%
12 Battleground or Swing state averages
( ) represents number of electoral college vote
1. Arizona (11): Biden +2.7
Biden 48.8%, Trump 46.1%. Last week: Biden 49.3%, Trump 45.5% (Biden +3.8)
2. Florida (29): Biden +1.9
Biden 48.9%, Trump 47.0%. Last week: Biden 48.7%, Trump 46.0% (Biden +2.7)
3. Georgia (16): Biden +0.5
Biden 47.6%, Trump 47.1%. Last week: Biden 47.9%, Trump 46.6% (Biden +1.3)
4. Iowa (6): Biden +1.1
Biden 47.4%, Trump 46.3%. Last week: Biden 47.8%, Trump 47.0%(Biden +0.8)
5. Michigan (16): Biden +7.8
Biden 50.5%, Trump 42.7%. Last week: Biden 50.4%, Trump 42.9% (Biden +7.5)
6. Minnesota (10): Biden +7.1
Biden 49.4%, Trump 42.3%. Last week: Biden 49.0%, Trump 41.2% (Biden +7.8)
7. Nevada (6): Biden +5.8
Biden 49.6%, Trump 43.8%. Last week: Biden 49.3%, Trump 43.4% (Biden +5.9)
8. North Carolina (15): Biden +1.9
Biden 49.1%, Trump 47.2%. Last week: Biden 48.8%, Trump 45.9% (Biden +2.9)
9. Ohio (18): Trump +1.0
Trump 47.4%, Biden 46.4%. Last week: Trump 46.7%, Biden 46.4% (Trump +0.3)
10. Pennsylvania (20): Biden +5.4
Biden 50.0%, Trump 44.6%. Last week: Biden 50.0%, Trump 44.5% (Biden +5.5)
11. Texas (38): Trump +1.7
Trump 48.1%, Biden 46.8%. Last week: Trump 48.9%, Biden 46.0% (Trump +2.9)
12. Wisconsin (10): Biden +5.7
Biden 50.1%, Trump 44.4%. Last week: Biden 50.5%, Trump 43.8% (Biden +6.7)
As per the US Constitution, the President and VP are elected by the electoral college (538 members). Regardless victory margin of the popular votes, a candidate needs 270 votes to win. And the battleground states within 2% differences alone will net 122 votes.
Hence, the term “battleground.”
What’s your read?
Running with Buddha 