US Elections 2020: Why Ohio, a key battleground, is important this time?

In the 2016 US election, Ohio voted overwhelmingly for President Donald Trump, putting the state’s status as a swing state in jeopardy.

In 2012, former
president Barack Obama had won this state. The state is a major prize with 18 electoral college votes. In 2016, Trump defeated former first lady Hilary Clinton by 8.1 points.

However, this election, the campaign of Joe Biden, Trump’s Democrat challenger, can win the lost support for the party, as polls show a close race this time in the midwestern industrial state of Ohio. 

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Ohio matters because in the last dozen elections, has voted for the Democratic Party five times while it has voted for Republican Patry seven times. The swing state, which has not stood constant on any particular party, has established itself as a major battleground as well as a must-win state for the presidential campaign. 

In 2016, when the 45th US President was a new candidate for America, Trump went after trade deals, globalisation, and his “Make America Great Again!” gave him overwhelming support in Ohio. 

In 2018, Trump had said, “You can’t win unless you win the state of Ohio.” 

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Meanwhile, Biden, when he was vice president, has visited Ohio and touted his role in helping save the US automobile industry

As Trump, currently, with experience of four years in the White House, is seeking reelection, it can be difficult for him to win the crucial battleground amid a higher rate of unemployment and sinking economy prevailed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Former vice president Biden seems to have an edge over Trump in Ohio by 3.3 points. A Fox News poll, conducted in late September, shows that Biden tops Trump 50% to 45% among likely voters in Ohio.

As the battleground is expanding to include more potential pickups for Biden, it could be contributing to the president’s difficulties in reelection this time.