Articles | Early voting in swing state of Ohio

Early voting in swing state of Ohio

Published: Wednesday, 1 October 2008, 8:51AM

Voters in Ohio have begun casting their ballots five weeks ahead of the US presidential election.

Ohio is the state that tipped the election for current President George W Bush four years ago and may determine his successor.

Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama are focusing intently on Ohio as they seek to win the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the White House.

Early participation appeared light in a place where 20 electoral college votes are at stake.

Most of the recent state polls show a dead heat, while others give Mr McCain a slight edge. But national surveys show Mr Obama ahead.

Ohio is crucial to Mr McCain's electoral strategy. Mr Bush won Ohio, and a loss for Mr McCain in the state would be very difficult to make up by achieving victories elsewhere, with several states already tilting towards Mr Obama.

Mr Obama was beaten in Ohio by his former rival Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary - she carried 83 of 88 counties as white working-class voters flocked to her.

But Mr Obama now leads Mr McCain in enough other states that Mr Bush won in 2004 that even with a loss in Ohio he could still claim the 18 electoral votes he would need if he carries all the states Democrat John Kerry did in 2004.