What is meant by the term “swing state”?

In American politics, the term "swing state" is used to refer to a state in which the outcome of a presidential election is especially uncertain. This uncertainty arises because the voter base is closely divided between the two major political parties in the United States. As a result, a small shift in public opinion or a strong campaign effort can easily swing the result of the election in a particular direction. In North Dakota, the swing state designation has often been applied to the state because its voter base is often divided among Republican and Democratic candidates. This means that while both major parties have a shot at winning the state, a small shift in support for one of the candidates can easily cause the election to go in their favor. Swing states are often thought of as important because they can often decide the outcome of a presidential election. If one candidate wins a large majority of the swing states, they can gain a sizable electoral college majority, which is the mechanism by which the president is elected in the United States. As a result, swing states are often heavily targeted by candidates in their campaigns, as their success in those states can be a deciding factor in the outcome of the election.

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What is meant by the term “swing state”?

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