A location where a battle may be fought, or has been fought. A state that had a margin of victory of 5% or less in the most recent presidential race shows a narrow divide among voters. Merriam-Webster found an example of the phrase in an 1842 edition of the Centinel of Freedom. Which States Split Their Electoral Votes? Additional states might evolve from Republican or Democratic locks to battlegrounds in future races. the field or ground on which a battle is fought. The hardening of the electoral vote map in the 21st century has left a small group of battleground states. It is important to note that these shifts often take multiple elections to be realized or rejected. North Carolina was the only state with margins of 5% or less in 2008, 2012, and 2016. As election analysis has grown more sophisticated, it has been easier for campaigns to anticipate battlegrounds and narrow resources to the most dynamic states. Another word for battleground. Fracking is a central element in the broader conversation on climate change and a constant source of friction between the oil-and-gas industry and environmentalists. Voters and analysts can draw on data from past elections and current polling to anticipate these shifts in the political landscape. Which of the following refers to thin, bending ice, or to the act of running over such ice. Swing states are also sometimes referred to as battleground states. Send us feedback. This analysis also found an unusual range of potential battlegrounds in 2012 with up to 21 states listed by covered outlets during the campaign. Delivered to your inbox! Frequent use of battleground state in national elections makes it seem like a deeply ingrained part of our political language. In American politics, the term swing state (or battleground state) refers to any state that could reasonably be won by either the Democratic or Republican presidential candidate by a swing in votes. During the 2020 presidential election cycle, Democrats in key battleground states went around GOP-controlled state legislatures to unconstitutionally change their voting rules and procedures. Using Google’s Ngram Viewer, we see an uptick in the phrase’s use in 1980 before a significant jump in 2000. More than a dozen states are considered swing states, and most of them hold a large number of electoral votes and are considered major prizes in presidential elections. Battleground state is the oldest of the three terms, and we find examples of its use in its current political sense as early as 1860. A battleground is also a battlefield. Political analyst Kyle Kondik published an analysis that listed Arizona, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin as pure toss-up states. Political battleground definition: A battleground is the same as a → battlefield . Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible). (figurative) Any subject of dispute or contention. Learn a new word every day. Battleground states. [...] | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples These estimates of the state of play in the next presidential election show divergent opinions among political observers. Swing state … battleground (Noun) Figuratively, any subject of dispute or contention. Is It Realistic to Abolish the Electoral College? The farmer's field was a civil war battleground, and relics such a minnie bullets were frequently found while plowing. Dr. Eric Ostermeier at the University of Minnesota analyzed the frequency of use for both phrases during the 2012 presidential election. Party:Thirty-seven percent of voters in Nevada identified as Democrats, versus 27 percent of Republicans in preliminary exit poll results. The farmer's field was a civil war battleground, and relics such a minnie bullets were frequently found while plowing. Merriam-Webster found an example of the phrase in an 1842 edition of the Centinel of Freedom. The roster of consensus battleground states fluctuated from 11 in 2004 to six in 2008 and nine in 2012. In U.S. politics, a battleground state is a state where the political race between a Republican and Democrat, usually presidential candidates, is extremely close. There are underlying factors that are helpful in evaluating the future battleground status of a state. Ballotpedia’s analysis of the 2016 presidential election showed 38 states and the District of Columbia were effectively determined before Election Day. The phrases “battleground state” and “swing state” are indispensable to the language used in modern presidential elections. Swing state was a more popular term for closely contested states in presidential politics starting in the 1960s. What Is the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact? During this period, 18 states had at least one presidential race that fit within the 5% margin of victory criterion. “Battleground” or “swing” states, which can switch back and forth between the two major parties in U.S. presidential votes and are heavily courted by candidates, will be crucial to deciding the winner of this year’s election. Before evaluating battleground states, it is useful to categorize states outside of the battleground definition. Due to the way that presidential elections are run in the United States, the popular vote is not as important as the the individual tally of the states. In this case, the phrase was used to describe internal political strife in New Jersey politics. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. He found a spectrum of usage from ABC’s 2.5-to-1 ratio of battleground state to swing state to MSNBC’s 1.8-to-1 ratio of swing state to battleground state. The issue has been raised numerous times as the candidates make their final push to reach voters in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. The Cook Political Report updated its race ratings on October 28, 2020: Texas moved from Leans Republican to Toss Up. a place where an argument or competition is happening: Pennsylvania and Ohio are key battlegrounds in this year’s election. (Fourteen percent were contacted by both campaigns.) By 2004, battleground state overtook swing state in popularity but both phrases are used by media outlets. 'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'? Trump campaign’s internal polling shows battleground voters prefer “orderly and peaceful” transition The Senate Reportedly Has The GOP Votes To Convict Trump If McConnell Gives The Green Light The House just passed a resolution calling on Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment The temptation to expand the electoral map ahead of a presidential election is strong. Understanding how battleground states are determined provides a glimpse into how future presidential elections will be determined. An analysis of presidential election results from 2000 to 2016 using margins of victory can solidify battleground states in our minds. "Battleground states" are also known as "swing states" or "purple states". A battleground is also a battlefield. 'Nail-Biter', 'Battleground State', and... “Battleground.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/battleground. : a place where a battle is fought. An NPR report from August 2019 identified Texas as a potential battleground state due to demographic changes and turnover in the congressional delegation. Ballotpedia’s post-2016 analysis placed all of these states except Minnesota and Nevada in the group of 12 decisive states. Each battleground state receives ample campaign visits, ad spending, and national attention because the outcomes in most states are clear months ahead of elections. Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites.He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.. Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. The only states to reach this margin in four of the five elections were Florida and Ohio. Using Google’s Ngram Viewer, we see an uptick in the phrase’s use in 1980 before a significant jump in 2000. Of 5 % margin of victory criterion argument or competition is happening Pennsylvania. Wisconsin as pure toss-up states use for both phrases during the 2012 election. New leadership at the University of Minnesota analyzed the frequency of use for phrases. 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