ABC News earlier announced they had moved Pennsylvania and Minnesota from "safe" Obama to "leans" Obama, despite polling showing Obama ahead in both states and prior voting history showing both states have voted for Democratic presidential candidates more than Republican candidates.
(More on that here)
The absentee ballot returns in Pennsylvania may just give a clue as to why Pennsylvania is in play.
18.8 percent more absentee ballot returns have been seen for Republicans than for Democrats, according to the GOP:
PENNSYLVANIA AB RETURNS
|
|||||
| Party |
2008 AB Votes Cast
|
2012 AB Votes Cast
|
Change
|
||
| DEM |
132,170
|
44.70% |
42,013
|
36.42% |
-8.28%
|
| REP |
137,850
|
46.62% |
63,717
|
55.24% |
+8.62%
|
| TOTAL |
295,659
|
+1.92% |
115,346
|
+18.82% |
+16.90%
|
That is a a 16.9 percent bump in a state Obama won by 10% in 2008.