"President James K. Polk holds a distinction among those who have sought the nation's top job: He's the only major candidate to win the White House despite losing the vote in the state where he was born and the state where he lived."
"It happened in 1844, and now 168 years later, Republican nominee Mitt Romney may need to duplicate Polk's feat if he wants to defeat President Barack Obama in Tuesday's election."
Mitt Romney, Barack Obama and their running mates have a fair claim to a number of "home" states. None of these are really "swing states," but these in theory are the states that know these men best, so let's take a look at how the campaign is going in these states. Poll numbers are from Nate Silver's polling average as of Sunday, November 4.
State
Claim to fame
Dem
GOP
Advantage
District of Columbia
Obama resides in the White House (2009-present).
88.0%
8.0%
Obama +80.0%
Hawaii
Obama was born in Honolulu (August 4, 1961).
61.6%
33.6%
Obama +27.5%
Illinois
Obama moved to Chicago in 1991. He was Illinois State Senator 1997-2004 and Illinois' US Senator 2004-2008.
56.6%
38.7%
Obama +17.9%
Mass-achusetts
Romney has degrees in business and law from Harvard University (1971-1975). He stayed in Boston where he worked for Bain Capital (1977-2002) and served as Bishop of the Ward for the LDS Church (1981-1986). He ran for Senate unsuccessfully (1994). He was elected Governor (2003-2007).
Obama has a degree in law from Harvard University (1988-1991).
56.8%
38.5%
Obama +18.3%
Michigan
Romney was born in Detroit (March 12, 1947). His father George Romney was President of the American Motors Company (1954-1962) and Governor of Michigan (1963-1969).
49.3%
44.6%
Obama +4.7%
Utah
Mitt and Ann Romney were married at the Salt Lake Temple (1969). Romney attended Brigham Young University. Romney ran the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Romney owns a home in Park City, UT.
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