Can Romney really win without Ohio?
Obama is opening up his lead in the Buckeye State, which no successful Republican presidential candidate has ever lost. Does Romney have a Plan B?
The numbers are looking grim for Mitt Romney. The latest poll from The Washington Post shows President Obama with an eight-point lead in Ohio, which many consider a must-win battleground state for Romney. And a poll from The New York Times/Quinnipiac University/CBS News has Obama with a formidable 10-point lead in the Buckeye State. Romney has started campaigning heavily in Ohio, but the state is increasingly looking out of reach. Can Romney get to 270 electoral votes if Ohio goes blue?
Yes. If he's lucky, Romney doesn't need Ohio: "As pundits repeat ad nauseam," no Republican has "lost Ohio and gone on to win the presidency," says Katrina Trinko at The National Review. "But perhaps 2012 will be the first year that changes." To win without Ohio, Romney will have to sweep the battleground states that are currently considered toss-ups: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Virginia. "That's not an easy task — and he's not doing great in the polling in many of those states, either — but it's possible."
"Can Romney win without Ohio?"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Romney may have to let Ohio go: With Obama "consistently holding a lead in polls of Ohio," Romney "may need to devise a strategy to win the Electoral College without it," says Nate Silver at The New York Times. The Romney campaign would have to "place more emphasis on Iowa and Nevada," while praying that a "shift in the national environment would carry states like Virginia and Florida back" into its column. "It isn't a great plan. But when you're a Republican candidate and are down outside the margin of error in Ohio with six weeks to go, you don't have any great plans."
"Romney's narrow path without Ohio"
Impossible. It's Ohio or bust: While it's technically possible for Romney to win without Ohio, "ultimately, Romney can't count on sweeping New Hampshire, Nevada, Iowa, and Colorado in a close election." says Nate Cohn at The New Republic. The president has "established a clear lead in Virginia, Ohio, and Wisconsin, and there are signs that Obama might hold a similar lead in Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, or Colorado." Bottom line: "Romney is in danger of getting overwhelmed."
"Obama's bounce cascades across battleground states"
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Baltimore bridge disaster: Who is going to pay and how?
Today's Big Question Politicians, legal experts, and the insurance industry are all grappling with the financial fallout of America's worst infrastructure tragedy in years
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Melting polar ice is messing with global timekeeping
Speed Read Ice loss caused by climate change is slowing the Earth's rotation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Stick guitar
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Xi-Biden meeting: what's in it for both leaders?
Today's Big Question Two superpowers seek to stabilise relations amid global turmoil but core issues of security, trade and Taiwan remain
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published