Government
This Could Boil Down to Turnout in Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Miami
America's major cities lean Democratic, but these swing state metropolises could end up playing a deciding role.
Cities are seldom the source of much suspense on Election Day. They tend to vote reliably – often overwhelmingly – Democratic, which also explains why candidates from both parties devote little time to campaigning in them. With today's presidential election expected to boil down to turnout, though, a handful of cities in swing states could make a significant difference.
There’s little question President Obama will take Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Denver. But the question is: by how many votes? Will Obama's support in these urban centers be enough to land the president crucial electoral college votes in swing states otherwise heavily painted red? Or will urban turnout dip far below 2008, tipping some states toward Republican Mitt Romney?