It's the Battlegrounds

The states Obama and Romney need most to win the race.

It's the Battlegrounds - Every vote in every state counts but it’s the votes in the battleground states that both President Obama and Mitt Romney hope will provide the quickest route to the 270 Electoral College votes needed for victory. Here's a breakdown of what's at stake. (Note: Polls are current as of Oct. 31) – Joyce Jones

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It's the Battlegrounds - Every vote in every state counts but it’s the votes in the battleground states that both President Obama and Mitt Romney hope will provide the quickest route to the 270 Electoral College votes needed for victory. Here's a breakdown of what's at stake. (Note: Polls are current as of Oct. 31) – Joyce Jones

Pennsylvania - Electoral College Votes: 21 Most Recent Poll: In Franklin & Marshall's final poll of Keystone State voters published Oct. 31, Obama held a small lead of 49 to 45 percent among likely voters, with 4 percent undecided.State of the Economy: Living standards have increased while wages and job opportunities have declined, according to the latest report from the Keystone Research Center. The report also notes that "an outsized share of the benefits went to the top 1 percent of earners, preventing board-based prosperity and slowing down the economic recovery."—Unemployment: 8.2 percent —2011 Black Unemployment Rate: 13.3 percent —2011 White Unemployment Rate: 7.8 percent —Black Voting Population: 12.8 percent —2008 Winner: Barack Obama (54.7 percent)(Photo: Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images)

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Pennsylvania - Electoral College Votes: 21 Most Recent Poll: In Franklin & Marshall's final poll of Keystone State voters published Oct. 31, Obama held a small lead of 49 to 45 percent among likely voters, with 4 percent undecided.State of the Economy: Living standards have increased while wages and job opportunities have declined, according to the latest report from the Keystone Research Center. The report also notes that "an outsized share of the benefits went to the top 1 percent of earners, preventing board-based prosperity and slowing down the economic recovery."—Unemployment: 8.2 percent —2011 Black Unemployment Rate: 13.3 percent —2011 White Unemployment Rate: 7.8 percent —Black Voting Population: 12.8 percent —2008 Winner: Barack Obama (54.7 percent)(Photo: Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images)

Colorado - Electoral College Votes: 9Most Recent Poll: An American Research Group poll released on Oct. 29 shows just one point separates the two candidates with Romney ahead by 48 to 47 percent.State of the Economy: The state's economy is on the mend, according to a Denver Post report, but some areas, including the agriculture-driven Eastern Plains and parts of Denver, are doing better than others. According to one analyst, "Colorado will be a top-five state for job growth this year for sure."—Unemployment: 8 percent —2011 Black Unemployment Rate: 14 percent —2011 White Unemployment Rate: 8.4 percent —Black Voting Population: 4 percent —2008 Winner: Barack Obama (53.66 percent) (Photo: Marc Piscotty/Getty Images)

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Colorado - Electoral College Votes: 9Most Recent Poll: An American Research Group poll released on Oct. 29 shows just one point separates the two candidates with Romney ahead by 48 to 47 percent.State of the Economy: The state's economy is on the mend, according to a Denver Post report, but some areas, including the agriculture-driven Eastern Plains and parts of Denver, are doing better than others. According to one analyst, "Colorado will be a top-five state for job growth this year for sure."—Unemployment: 8 percent —2011 Black Unemployment Rate: 14 percent —2011 White Unemployment Rate: 8.4 percent —Black Voting Population: 4 percent —2008 Winner: Barack Obama (53.66 percent) (Photo: Marc Piscotty/Getty Images)

Florida - Electoral College Votes: 29Most Recent Poll: In a new poll released on Oct. 31 by Quinnipiac University/New York Times/CBS News Obama leads Romney by 48 to 47 percent, down from 53 to 44 percent at the end of September.State of the Economy: According to a report from the Research Institute on Social & Economic Policy, Florida's economic recovery has been among the nation's most "anemic." African-American wages are 75 percent of whites' and have decreased about $1,300 for full-time workers.—Unemployment: 8.7 percent —2011 Black Unemployment Rate: 17.1 percent —2011 White Unemployment Rate: 10.0 percent —Black Voting Population: 12.6 percent  —2008 Winner: Barack Obama (50.91 percent)(Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Florida - Electoral College Votes: 29Most Recent Poll: In a new poll released on Oct. 31 by Quinnipiac University/New York Times/CBS News Obama leads Romney by 48 to 47 percent, down from 53 to 44 percent at the end of September.State of the Economy: According to a report from the Research Institute on Social & Economic Policy, Florida's economic recovery has been among the nation's most "anemic." African-American wages are 75 percent of whites' and have decreased about $1,300 for full-time workers.—Unemployment: 8.7 percent —2011 Black Unemployment Rate: 17.1 percent —2011 White Unemployment Rate: 10.0 percent —Black Voting Population: 12.6 percent  —2008 Winner: Barack Obama (50.91 percent)(Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Ohio - Electoral College Votes: 18Most Recent Poll: In a Quinnipiac University/New York Times/CBS News poll released Oct. 31, Obama leads Romney by 50 to 45 percent.State of the Economy: Ohio is enjoying some economic recovery, thanks in part to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the auto industry bailout, which helped revive the state's manufacturing sector, Policy Matters Ohio reports. But African-Americans continue to experience "daunting levels of unemployment," particularly those without a high school diploma and young adults.—Unemployment: 7.0 percent —2011 Black Unemployment Rate: 17.2 percent —2011 White Unemployment Rate: 8.7 percent —Black Voting Population: 11.2 percent —2008 Winner: Barack Obama (51.38 percent) (Photo: REUTERS/Eric Thayer)

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Ohio - Electoral College Votes: 18Most Recent Poll: In a Quinnipiac University/New York Times/CBS News poll released Oct. 31, Obama leads Romney by 50 to 45 percent.State of the Economy: Ohio is enjoying some economic recovery, thanks in part to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the auto industry bailout, which helped revive the state's manufacturing sector, Policy Matters Ohio reports. But African-Americans continue to experience "daunting levels of unemployment," particularly those without a high school diploma and young adults.—Unemployment: 7.0 percent —2011 Black Unemployment Rate: 17.2 percent —2011 White Unemployment Rate: 8.7 percent —Black Voting Population: 11.2 percent —2008 Winner: Barack Obama (51.38 percent) (Photo: REUTERS/Eric Thayer)

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Wisconsin - Electoral College Votes: 10Most Recent Poll: Obama leads Romney among likely voters by 51 to 43 percent according to a new poll from Marquette Law School released Oct. 31.State of the Economy: Wisconsin ranks 25 in unemployment for states. Its economy is recovering but at a slow pace, according to a report from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. The education and health services sector was the only one that didn't decline during the great recession because of growth in the health care industry.—Unemployment: 7.3 percent —2011 Black Unemployment Rate: 25.0 percent —2011 White Unemployment Rate: 7.8 percent —Black Voting Population: 5 percent —2008 Winner: Barack Obama (56.3 percent)(Photo: Darren Hauck/Getty Images)

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Wisconsin - Electoral College Votes: 10Most Recent Poll: Obama leads Romney among likely voters by 51 to 43 percent according to a new poll from Marquette Law School released Oct. 31.State of the Economy: Wisconsin ranks 25 in unemployment for states. Its economy is recovering but at a slow pace, according to a report from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. The education and health services sector was the only one that didn't decline during the great recession because of growth in the health care industry.—Unemployment: 7.3 percent —2011 Black Unemployment Rate: 25.0 percent —2011 White Unemployment Rate: 7.8 percent —Black Voting Population: 5 percent —2008 Winner: Barack Obama (56.3 percent)(Photo: Darren Hauck/Getty Images)

North Carolina - Electoral College Votes: 15 Most Recent Poll: A Public Policy Polling survey released Oct. 31 put Obama and Romney in a dead heat at 49 percent. Early votes gave the president the edge by 58 to 41 percent, but Romney leads with those who haven’t voted by 58 to 40 percent. State of the Economy: In 2011, 28 percent of African-Americans in the state were living in poverty. According to a report from the North Carolina Justice Center, by 2020 60 percent of the jobs there will require post-secondary education and there is a critical need to align job training with industry needs. —Unemployment: 9.6 percent —2011Black Unemployment Rate: 19.0 percent —2011 White Unemployment Rate: 10.5 percent —Black Voting Population: 22.3 percent —2008 Winner: Barack Obama (49.9 percent) (Photo: Sara D. Davis/Getty Images)

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North Carolina - Electoral College Votes: 15 Most Recent Poll: A Public Policy Polling survey released Oct. 31 put Obama and Romney in a dead heat at 49 percent. Early votes gave the president the edge by 58 to 41 percent, but Romney leads with those who haven’t voted by 58 to 40 percent. State of the Economy: In 2011, 28 percent of African-Americans in the state were living in poverty. According to a report from the North Carolina Justice Center, by 2020 60 percent of the jobs there will require post-secondary education and there is a critical need to align job training with industry needs. —Unemployment: 9.6 percent —2011Black Unemployment Rate: 19.0 percent —2011 White Unemployment Rate: 10.5 percent —Black Voting Population: 22.3 percent —2008 Winner: Barack Obama (49.9 percent) (Photo: Sara D. Davis/Getty Images)

Nevada - Electoral College Votes: 6 Most Recent Poll: In the latest poll from the Las Vegas Review-Journal/Survey USA, Obama leads Romney by 50.47 percent. State of the Economy: Nevada has the nation's highest unemployment rate and for several months also had the highest number of home foreclosures and personal bankruptcies. —Unemployment: 11.8 percent —2011 Black Unemployment Rate: 22.1 percent —2011 White Unemployment Rate: 13.1 percent —Black Voting Population: 9.5 percent —2008 Winner: Barack Obama (55.15 percent) (Photo: David Becker/Getty Images)

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Nevada - Electoral College Votes: 6 Most Recent Poll: In the latest poll from the Las Vegas Review-Journal/Survey USA, Obama leads Romney by 50.47 percent. State of the Economy: Nevada has the nation's highest unemployment rate and for several months also had the highest number of home foreclosures and personal bankruptcies. —Unemployment: 11.8 percent —2011 Black Unemployment Rate: 22.1 percent —2011 White Unemployment Rate: 13.1 percent —Black Voting Population: 9.5 percent —2008 Winner: Barack Obama (55.15 percent) (Photo: David Becker/Getty Images)

Virginia - Virginia's voter ID plan was scheduled to take effect in July 2014. Its future now depends on whether Congress can come up a new formula to determine which states must get new voting procedures cleared.  (Photo: Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

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Virginia - Electoral College Votes: 13 Most Recent Poll: In the newest Quinnipiac/New York Times/CBS News poll, Obama leads by 49 to 47 percent, down from 51 percent on Oct. 11. State of the Economy: Unlike most states, a good portion of Virginia's economy is tied to the federal government because of its high number of defense contractors and government workers. But although, like most states, it fears the possible "fiscal cliff" the nation may fall over if lawmakers cannot come to an agreement on the debt ceiling and other budgetary issues, it also has set aside $30 million to cushion the blow. —Unemployment: 6.1 percent —2011 Black Unemployment Rate: 11.3 percent —2011 White Unemployment Rate: 6.5 percent —Black Voting Population: 20.4 percent —2008 Winner: Barack Obama (52.7 percent) (Photo: Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)