What are swing states and safe states?
A swing state is a state that, according to the polls, has no clear majority or plurality favoring either of the two major-party presidential candidates. As a result, both major parties have an opportunity to capture all of the state’s Electoral votes under our Electoral College system. A safe state is one that, according to polls, has a clear majority favoring one of the two major-party presidential candidates. Major-party candidates usually spend little time campaigning in these states because they know that they or their opponent is sure to win the state. For example, a majority of voters in New York is sure to vote for John Kerry, giving him all of New York’s 31 Electoral votes. And in Alabama, George Bush is sure to win a majority, giving him all of Alabama’s nine Electoral votes. As a result, neither candidate has spent significant time in New York or Alabama.
