Pennsylvania is a must-win for Hillary Clinton and Florida is essential for Donald Trump’s electoral path. 

In the final episode in our series on the swing states, we take a closer look at the Clinton-Trump matchup in both Pennsylvania and Florida.

Terry Madonna, director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin and Marshall College, explains why Pennsylvania is considered Clinton’s “firewall” state.  Why hasn’t a Republican been able to win Pennsylvania since 1988?  Professor Madonna breaks it down.  

To discuss Florida, Susan MacManus -- distinguished professor in government and international affairs at the University of South Florida – joins the podcast and tells us why so many elections are decided by only one percent in the Sunshine State.  Why is Trump so close in a state with a high Latino population?  Professor MacManus has answers. 

Listen now for the best analysis in the business.

 

Pennsylvania – 20 electoral votes (270 electoral votes needed to win the election)

Pennsylvania Census Data:

·         Voting-age population: 10.1 million (comparison to overall U.S. population in parenthesis)

o   18-to-44 years old: 43.4%  (47.1%)

o   45-to-64 years old: 35.4% (34.1%)

o   65 years and older: 21.2%  (18.9%)

·         Racial demographics (comparison to overall U.S. population in parenthesis)

o   White: 81.1%  (66.3%)

o   Hispanic: 5.4%  (15.3%)

o   Black: 10.6%  (12.5%)

o   Asian: 3.4%  (6.0%)

·         Economics (comparison to overall U.S. population in parenthesis)

o   Median household income: $53,234 ($53,657)

o   Poverty rate: 12.0%  (13.6%)

·         Education

o   Bachelor’s degree or higher: 29.0%  (30.1%)

·         2012 presidential election result – Barack Obama (D): 51.97%; Mitt Romney (R): 46.59% (source: Federal Election Commission)

Florida – 29 electoral votes (270 electoral votes needed to win the election)

Florida Census Data:

·         Voting-age population: 15.8 million (comparison to overall U.S. population in parenthesis)

o   18-to-44 years old: 42.5%  (47.1%)

o   45-to-64 years old: 33.5% (34.1%)

o   65 years and older: 23.9%  (18.9%)

·         Racial demographics (comparison to overall U.S. population in parenthesis)

o   White: 59.7%  (66.3%)

o   Hispanic: 22.7%  (15.3%)

o   Black: 14.8%  (12.5%)

o   Asian: 3.1%  (6.0%)

·         Economics (comparison to overall U.S. population in parenthesis)

o   Median household income: $47,463 ($53,657)

o   Poverty rate: 14.6%  (13.6%)

·         Education

o   Bachelor’s degree or higher: 27.3%  (30.1%)

·         2012 presidential election result – Barack Obama (D): 50.01%; Mitt Romney (R): 49.13% (source: Federal Election Commission)

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