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Inside the Ohio dynamic

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    Why is race so tight in swing state?

  • Duration 4:49
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-- a little bit about the outcome in this battleground state of Ohio could determine the winner.

The election tomorrow we have a live look at -- polling station in Columbus, Ohio busy place look at that -- lines.

Ohio is one of the ultimate swing state prize -- eighteen electoral votes expected to go a long way in deciding whether governor Romney for President Obama.

It's it is the White House next year Ohio is the only swing state both men will visit today.

-- by the way.

And -- -- -- apart cause she's editor at large for the American interests he writes quite a few blocks is at least find interesting including his -- Last week -- the Ohio dynamic weak candidates strong parties -- say that.

Well you know if you looked at Ohio.

Neither one of these candidates is who The Who Ohio ones would have really picked Ohio was kind of you know.

Down to earth kind of state.

You know is that this sort of left to mean community organizer from Chicago or is it the Mormon who Democrat who's been governor of Massachusetts.

Ohio would probably not have wanted either one of those candidates is interesting.

So we talk about polls and how tight they are sometimes that the rhetoric is because.

While everyone still enthusiastic about both candidates that that's why they're tight that you think maybe they're tight just because maybe dissatisfaction with either one is very high.

Well -- that's one of the things that happens when the polls are almost 5050 it means that neither candidate is blowing the other one out of the water.

And I think at this point as many people probably on both sides are voting against the other guy as voting for their -- Tell us a little bit about this strong party.

Part of this all this isn't something we talk a lot about the super pacs and all the money that's coming into these campaigns that you say Ohio is something to watch because the parties.

Are still so strong even if the candidates may not be.

That's right I mean -- you know when we talk about politics in this country too often we go what do it from 30000 feet up the nation.

Those super pacs or whatever.

But in a lot of states you still have very important party organizations that have a history that have a tradition that have more row Ohio happens to be.

In some ways had the strongest Republican Party organization of any state.

In Ohio it has been.

Winning elections for Republican -- pretty much since the civil war and you go out there and you talk to some of the guys in that party and in the people in that party.

And they they have a sense of identity and commitment.

The Democrats in Ohio it's kind of the same you've got a labor union movement you've got sort of urban ethnic ties they're going.

So on both sides you have very self conscious very committed organizations.

And because Ohio is usually very closely divided.

They're used to fighting.

And that seems like that's part of what we're watching -- not to discount either party really in this race you going to Election Day.

Clustered is broadly speaking -- what do you think is is best is it it's a good to have -- candidates and strong parties on the ground it's really connected with the communities.

Or is it better to have strong candidates that resonate.

Wherever you are in the country and relatively weak party organization.

But I think you know I have nothing against strong presidential candidates but I think in our country we need to stress grassroots politics more.

-- people talk about the problem of money in politics and media and so one.

The more than grass future engage the more its neighbors and local organizations.

You know.

Pushing for their own agenda -- things that they believe.

The -- all of this money really matters I'd like to see our country again -- stronger parties stronger local organizations.

But for the average citizen to feel like they have more.

Involvement in the government.

And do you think that would break some of the focus on -- -- -- twelve swing states that we're all going to be talking about for the next 36 hours would that make it it more.

Democratize if you will as far as candidates having -- pay attention to areas that are a red state urges the blue stating kind of -- off the list -- -- work.

Well I think it would strengthen the importance of issues and speaking to people kind of rationally about about the things they believe then.

But let's also not forget the swing states change Missouri used to be a swing state.

Virginia used to be a solidly Republican state years before that it was a solidly democratic state.

California used to be part of -- so called Republican lock.

So you know states change at any given point they're gonna be some small subset of states -- -- closely.

Argued but over time I think maybe all the states get a chance in the spotlight.

Change is the only constant right -- imagine an election about issues.

D'Alema and we can't have that we'd have a lot more at -- we dirty.