By CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Fresh new polls are out today in the battleground states of Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida - states that went for President Obama in 2008 but are expected to be toss-ups in November.
The Quinnipiac polls show Obama leading Mitt Romney by four points in Florida, 45% to 41%, which is within the poll's sampling error. The president is helped out here with strong support from Florida's Latinos.
In Pennsylvania, the president leads Romney by six points, 45% to 39%, his lead bolstered by a strong gender gap. Mr. Obama leads Romney by 12 points among women in Pennsylvania.
And in Ohio, the president is up nine points, 47% to 38%, once again with a big gender gap.
History suggests Obama will almost certainly win a second term if he can keep the lead in all three of these key swing states through Election Day.
In every presidential election since 1960, the winning candidate for president has carried at least two of the three. These three states combined have 67 of the 270 electoral votes needed to win the election.
But the word "battleground" has a special meaning in some cases.
Remember the hanging chads in 2000? The Supreme Court wound up deciding the election because Florida was mired in an antiquated system that kept the vote count there in question for weeks.
And then there's Ohio. Remember the voting machine fiasco in 2004?
You could make an argument that until they learn how to do it, Florida and Ohio shouldn't be allowed to vote in any more presidential elections.
But the fact is, Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania hold the keys to the White House – and that's a fact, Jack.
And right now things are looking pretty good for Obama.
Here’s my question to you: Should the same three states - Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania - be able to determine the outcome of every presidential election?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Andy:
Having been born and raised in Ohio, I'll say yes and no. On one hand, the Electoral College is outdated, and getting rid of it would avoid this whole issue. That said, it does feel nice to know your vote seems to count a little more when you vote in a swing state (although you have to suffer through far more political ads than the rest of the states do for it).
Tyler in Pennsylvania:
As a proud Pennsylvanian and a Democrat, I enjoy it. It makes up for being irrelevant most years in the primaries.
Ed in Texas:
I'm okay with Ohio and Pennsylvania. But ever since the election of 2000, Florida should be on some kind of probation.
Bob in Iowa:
Jack, You forgot about Iowa. They tell us here we're first in the nation. Well, sir, no Sweet Corn for you, and it's early this year.
Bob in Ohio:
Better yet we could find out which key areas in those three states determine the electoral vote outcome and have only them vote for president. Just think of all the aggravation they would save the rest of the country.
James:
Jack, It is the system we have. It is like being married. Not what you dreamed about, but what else can you do?
Tom in Atlanta:
Let's just be thankful it's not California!