2008 Campaign Tracker
Following is a listing of the times the major party nominees for president and vice president visited each state from September 5, the day after the Republican presidential convention, to November 4. This information was compiled from the Washington Post and is based on publicly available information from media reports, campaigns, and other sources. Some events--particularly fundraisers--may not be included in the data, as they are often unannounced.Visits to states not included in the chart include Sarah Palin's two visits to her home state of Alaska, Joe Biden's four visits to his home state of Delaware, and the visits by each candidate corresponding to the debates in Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, and New York.

Press Release Series: The Swing States of America

        
  12/4/08 - 2008's Shrinking Battleground
10/29/08 - 99% of 2008 Presidential Campaign Visits in Only 17 States

10/22/08 - With two weeks to go, presidential candidates spoil six lucky states

10/17/08 - In the "Swing States of America," Candidates Ignore a Majority of States and Follow Voting Patterns of 2004 Presidential Election

10/9/08 - Candidates Focus Their Times and Resources on a Handful of States and Follow Voting Patterns of 2004 Presidential Election

2008 Presidential Ad Spending
State Obama 
Biden  
Democrat 

McCain 
Palin  
Republican 

All Visits*
Alabama 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
Alaska 0 0 0
0 0
0

0
Arizona 0 0 0
2
0 2

2
Arkansas 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
California 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
Colorado 5
3
8

5
4
9

17
Connecticut 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
Delaware 0 0
0

0 0 0
0
District of Columbia 0 1 1
0 0 0
1
Florida 12
5
17

8
5
13

30
Georgia 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
Hawaii 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
Idaho 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
Illinois 1
0 1

0 0 0
1
Indiana 4
2
6

1
3
4

10
Iowa 1
0 1

4
3
7

8
Kansas 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
Kentucky 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
Louisiana 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
Maine 0 0 0
0 1
1

1
Maryland 0 1
1

0 0 0
1
Massachusetts 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
Michigan 3 2 5
4 3 7
12
Minnesota 0 0 0
1
0
1

1
Mississippi 0
0 0

0
0 0

0
Missouri 3
5
8

4
4
8

16
Montana 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
Nebraska 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
Nevada 4
1
5

1
3
4

9
New Hampshire 3
3
6

2
1
3

9
New Jersey 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
New Mexico 2
1
3

5
1
6

9
New York 3
1 4

4
2
6

10
North Carolina 5
3
8

2
3
5

13
North Dakota 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
Ohio 6
9
15

9
11
20

35
Oklahoma 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
Oregon 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
Pennsylvania 4
5
9

11
9
20

29
Rhode Island 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
South Carolina 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
South Dakota 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
Tennessee 0
0 0

1
0 1

1
Texas 0 1
1

0 0 0
1
Utah 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
Vermont 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
Virginia 9
6
15

3
3
6

21
Washington 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
West Virginia 0 1
1

0 0 0
1
Wisconsin 2 0 2
5
4
9

11
Wyoming 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
Total







           249

*Information in this chart is based on data from The Washington Post 2008 Campaign Tracker. Visits and fundraisers documented in alternative news sources may not be included. Any portion of a day spent in a state constitutes a visit to that state. For example, if a candidate spends one day in Alabama and has two rallies on that day, this is documented as a single visit to Alabama. Multiple events held in one state on the same day are considered a single visit. Consecutive days spent in a single state are considered multiple visits. For example, if a candidate holds a rally on Monday and holds a speech on Tuesday, both in Alabama, each day constitutes its own visit, and the candidate therefore has two visits to Alabama. For the purposes of our research non-traditional campaign events such as fundraisers, visits to candidates' home states, schedule debates, and work-related visits are excluded from the data.
 
December 18th 2006
Demand a More Truly Democratic and Inclusive Democracy!

A Fairvote call for change and reform.

May 11th 2006
Louisiana should push for Electoral College reform
Bayou Buzz

FairVote's Rob Richie shows Louisiana has every reason to embrace a national popular vote rather than the current system that ignores the needs of its voters time and time again.

April 11th 2006
State legislators vote to tweak electoral college
The Durango Herald

Colorado becomes the first state to consider the National Popular Vote plan following its approval by the state's Senate Judiciary Committee.

April 1st 2006
Every voter deserves to be treated equally
The News Tribune (WA)

FairVote's Executive Director Rob Richie responds to an op-ed written by Washington Post columnist David Broder that criticizes the National Popular Vote plan.

March 20th 2006
Vote plan gains popularity
The Denver Post

Denver Post editor considers National Popular Vote effort worthy.

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