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.
 
October 28th 2004
The electoral college is doing harm to our democracy
South Brunswick Post (NJ)

It is time to find alternatives to the Electoral College and enact reforms such as instant runoff voting and full public financing.

October 24th 2004
Election Reform Also on Ballot
The News Standard (NY)

A proposed amendment in Colorado would allow the state to distribute its electors to the electoral college based on the popular vote outcome.

October 22nd 2004
Electoral College Football
CBS News

The 220-year-old Electoral College may be the bane of Election 2004. If the Electoral College ties in a 269-269 vote, some outlandish scenarios become plausible for the election of our nation's highest leader.

October 20th 2004
Loser take all? Our electoral rules demand reform
Knight-Ridder/Tribune

American voting system does not function well due to the antiquated Electoral College and winner-take-all rule.

October 20th 2004
A to-do list for the day after Nov. 2
Detroit Free Press

The 2004 Presidential election will leave many people disappointed, and in its wake, three key reforms should be purused: electoral college reform, instant runoff voting, and allowing immigrants to serve as President.

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