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Clinton and Trump's focus on Ohio is no mistake

Posted at 8:09 PM, Oct 21, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-21 20:09:07-04

As Ohio goes, so goes the nation.

With its 18 electoral votes and diverse population, Ohio is often regarded as a bellwether state. Its importance is illustrated by the continual campaigning from each candidate in the Buckeye state.

"We continue to be a swing state. the recent polling shows a very close race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in Ohio", said Baldwin Wallace professor of political science Tom Sutton.

Sutton said Ohio's 18 electoral votes are crucial to both candidates.

"For Donald Trump we are a must win state if he has any chance of winning the White House, and for Hillary Clinton she doesn't have to win Ohio, but it helps in terms of her having the mandate should she win the white house," Sutton said.

Why are we seeing Clinton and Trump making Cleveland a regular campaign stop?

"Well Cleveland is a big metro area, it's the largest metro area in the state, and it's where we're seeing the potential flip over of who are traditional democrats. and for Clinton's side it's about mobilizing the voters who came out in strong numbers for Obama," Sutton said.

If both candidates know supporters who show up at their rallies will vote for them, what audience are they really trying to reach?

Sutton said they're trying to motivate volunteers to get out the vote, but that’s not all.

"The local news coverage puts the word out that our town is considered important by these candidates, they're showing up, they're having rallies, and that gets other people thinking about voting," Sutton said.

Sutton predicts the candidates will come back to the Cleveland area two more times before election day