Electoral votes and the presidential race

WLUK TV

Updated: Oct 12, 2012 5:54 PM

GREEN BAY — It's the final month of the presidential race. And the gap in the polls between President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney continues to narrow, both in Wisconsin and across the country.

”Wisconsin has been traditionally a little difficult to call one way or another,” said Scott Furlong, a political science professor at UW-Green Bay.

A recent poll puts Obama just three points ahead of Romney in Wisconsin. That's within the margin of error.

Obama's lead is slightly wider nationwide.

But poll numbers don't tell the whole story. The election comes down to which man has the majority of electoral votes.

"What they're trying to do is put together the right set of states to get you to 270,” said Furlong.

270 is the “half plus one” number of electoral votes needed to capture the presidency.

FOX 11 took a look at where the country stands right now.

Much of the East and West Coast are projected to go to President Obama.

States in the south and plains are considered Romney's territory.

There are a few states where one candidate has a slight edge over the other. Obama is gaining ground in Michigan, New Mexico and Pennsylvania. Romney: Arizona, Indiana and Missouri.

And then there are the so-called battle ground states: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Obama is projected to have 237 electoral votes. Romney: 191. 110 electoral votes are up for grabs.

Wisconsin, with its 10 electoral votes, plays a role in a presidential victory. Analysts say it's not the must-win state like others, who have larger amounts of electoral votes. Florida, for instance, has 29.

"That's why states like Florida, Ohio and Virginia with more electoral votes become so important,” said Furlong.

Republicans and Democrats say the road to the White House goes through the Badger State.

"It's a state that Republicans haven't won since 1984. Yet when Sen. Johnson won and Governor Walker won, and then Scott Walker won the recall, it sets Wisconsin up as a state that's clearly in transition,” said Rich Beeson, the Romney campaign’s national political director.

"Both sides are mobilizing their supporters but I think there has been a slight lean towards the president in this state,” said Ben LaBolt, the Obama campaign’s national press secretary.

But both sides agree: The election all comes down to who turns out to vote.

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