TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — With the Republican convention beginning tomorrow and the Democrats kicking off a week later, President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are still looking to lock up states that could get them to the 270 electoral votes needed to win in November.
An Associated Press analysis of a variety of factors finds that neither candidate has a significant advantage in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Ohio, Nevada, New Hampshire and Virginia, which offer a combined 85 electoral votes.
The analysis finds that if the election were held today, Obama would have 19 states and the District of Columbia, offering 247 votes, solidly in his column or leaning his way. Republican Romney would have 24 states with 206 votes.
Unknown factors include the unemployment rate, an unexpected foreign policy crisis or the outcome of the candidates' October debates.
