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Tuesday, November 6, 2012

United States l The "swing states", which defines the choice


As its name implies, the United States is a confederation of states. So when voters go to the polls next vote as U.S. citizens as well as citizens of the state in which they reside. The indirect voting system, with electoral college in the U.S. has a particularity: it gives great weight to the states, giving all the electoral votes to the party that prevails in every state. Therefore, in order to analyze the possible electoral scenarios should ignore polls that are broadcast nationally and analyze the internal situation in each state. Under that premise, the 53 U.S. states can be divided into three groups: those of Democratic tradition (California, New York, etc.), typically those Republicans (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia) and known as "swing states" , states with independent voters, who decide their vote for either party in a different way in each election. The "swing states" are states where the electoral battle is concentrated where both parties spend much of their budget on advertising and, of course, which ultimately defined the election. 

Florida, between 2000 and the specter of the weight of Latinos

The most important of this group is Florida, the fourth district of the U.S. by population size, with 29 electoral votes. In 2000 was the epicenter of a major electoral disputes in the country's history, when George W. Bush won over Al Gore surrounded by multiple allegations of irregularities. At that time, it was the Supreme Court who decided that the winner was Bush, dismissing the recount request from Democrats. In 2004, Bush won again, but the state was for Democrats in 2008, when Obama won his first term. In 2012, the fate of President Obama in Florida is tied to the large Hispanic (Cuban and Puerto Rican, traditionally closer to the Democrats) and youth. The Democratic candidate shows a slight advantage there in the polls, but that young silogra and Hispanics, two groups with a high level of abstention, actually go to vote, you could get a more comfortable victory. In a contest so hard and so tight with the result, no one wants to repeat the experience of 2000, so we will wait until the morning to have the official data.


Ohio, the state "must win"

Second in importance is Ohio, with 18 electoral votes. The demographic composition makes many analysts claim that acts as a "sample" nationally: it has the same proportion of urban and rural population nationwide, relationship is also maintained in age, religious and racial. However, this time the state is in better economic conditions than the national average, with lower unemployment, which could play into the Democrats. A particularity why all eyes converge in Ohio: in the last 50 years, all candidates who won the presidency in this state won. One thing that the Republicans know, and that bet has been strong there.


North Carolina: Obama wants to repeat the feat

When in 2008 the U.S. president won the state, snapped a nine presidential elections for Republicans. This time things will not be easy for Obama, who wants to keep the 15 electoral votes awarded by the state and for that chose to host the Democratic National Convention. However, the polls give a slight advantage to Romney.


Virginia: a third candidate can change everything

In 2008, Obama managed to break a long conservative tradition that dated 1964 by a margin of 7%. Now, Democrats and Republicans show different surveys, which are attributed the victory. In an attempt to get a key state for their aspirations, Romney included it in his "rally" final. There must not only compete against the president, but a third independent candidate, Virgil Goode, could subtract up to 5% of the conservative vote.


Wisconsin

With 10 electoral votes, is the last of the "swing states" of "double digits." The Republican candidate for vice president, Paul Ryan, a native of that state, and is the big bet to break a Republican Democrat tradition that dates back to 1984, when Ronald Reagan won reelection. However, according to the polls, Barack Obama is close to Democratic tradition continue there.


Colorado

With nine electoral votes, Obama got there one of its greatest electoral success in 2008, after eight of nine presidential Republican hands. Demographic changes in the state-and Latino-youngest president could benefit. Moreover, along with the presidency, Colorado plebiscitará some easing in consumption, production and marketing of marijuana, a proposal that has majority support in the state and that would bring votes to Obama. There are conflicting surveys, and the end is still open.

Samsung and Apple fight over who sells more

Samsumg said it sold more than 30 million units  of its smartphone  Galaxy S III worldwide since it was released on May 29. "Reaching this milestone of sales in just five months marks another record for the company. The Samsung Galaxy S3 remains the heavy favorite in the world " , explained the  President  of the firm  JK  ShinThe smartphone, which weighs 133 grams, is equipped with a screen , high-resolution4.8 " , has two cameras, an 8 megapixel rear and a 1.9 megapixel front. features  Android 4.1 Jelly BeanNew mobile figures exceed those of the previous model, the  Galaxy  S2. In  2011 sold about  10 million units  in the same period of time. The company, with about 206,000 employees achieved between July and September this year a net profit of more than U.S. $ 6,000 million , record company and 91% more than the same period of 2011. In the last period from July to September, Samsung sold 56.3 million smartphones compared to 26.9 million for Apple, according to research firm IDCMeanwhile, Apple announced that during this weekend sold three million of iPad miniand fourth-generation iPad. The company claims that this is a new record, as the previous model managed 1.5 million sales in its first three days on sale. The 7.9-inch iPad mini marks the first foray of the firm in the segment of smaller tablets . It is the first major device released by the company since the death of co-founder Steve Jobs last year.  Apple and  Samsung,  as well as being encountered in the aisles, also carry a legal war by mutual accusations of patent violation in a dozen countries. Recently, a U.S. court ruled in favor of the signing of the block and forced the South Korean to pay U.S. $ 1,051 million.  

Dozens of people are killed in two car bombings in Damascus and Hama

A bomb attack in a suburb of Damascus and other members against government forces in Hama (center) on Monday caused dozens of deaths and injuries in Syria , as the regime intensified its bombing rebel positions. In the district of Al Mezze, located in the southwest of the capital, killed at least eleven people and wounded dozens, including women and children, according to Syria's official news agency, Sana. The source reported that "a terrorist group" detonated an explosive device that had been previously placed on the underside of a vehicle. The bodies were taken to hospitals in Al Muasa and Al Shahid, who have treated wounded 31 and 24,respectively, some of them in serious condition. The blast, which also reported the opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, causedsignificant damage to the cars parked in the vicinity, as well as buildings and shops in the area. Al Mezze in Damascus and other neighborhoods have been targeted in recent months numerous attacks that the Syrian regime has always blamed "terrorists" , and refers to the armed opposition. On 11 September, a strong explosion occurred in Al Mezze outside the headquarters of the Military Court of Damascus, while three days before a car bomb exploded in the neighborhood near the Ministry of Information. This Sunday, seven people were injured in a powerful explosion near the park headquarters Syrian Workers Union and nearby Damarose in the affluent suburb of Abu Rumaneh in the center of the capital.

Attack of the rebels in Hama

Meanwhile, the attack took place in Hama village of Talmeya to Rifeya where concentrate a large number of troops loyal to the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad , according to the information of opponents. The spokesman of the Revolutionary Union of Hama, Abu Qasim al Hamaui, said by telephone that the attack was perpetrated by a rebel brigade by the procedure of car bomb. Al Hamaui could not specify a number of fatalities, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights raised to fifty the regime troops dead and Sana agency totaled two provisional number of dead and ten wounded. The activist also said the rebels attacked a government checkpoint in the town of Al Siara in Hama, which caused several casualties among government. in the rest of the country, in this day continued fighting between insurgents and government forces, and the bombing of these on insurgency strongholds. In this sense, the Observatory said two dozen rebel fighters died in bombing the Syrian army against the people of Harem, in the northern province of Idleb. In this town, the General Commission of the Syrian Revolution reported, meanwhile, the death of twelve people , including eight rebels by bombing Mig fighter jet. Fighter attacks also caused 22 deaths in the village of Kafrnabel, Idleb, said an activist of the province identified as Abu Hamam. Politically, the Syrian opposition held a summit in Doha to address the growing loss of credibility of the Syrian National Council (CNS). The General Assembly of the CNS, composed of 220 members , has been meeting in the capital Sunday catarí to assess their economic and political strategy this week after the United States will withdraw from explicit recognition as sole representative of opposition. Meanwhile, the international mediator for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi, met last night in Cairo with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, whose government has vetoed in the Security Council of the UN any resolution condemning the regime in Damascus. This meeting was not achieved no concrete progress and Lavrov considered unnecessary a resolution on Syria in the Security Council, while expressing full support for the Egyptian initiative to form an international quartet to stop the Syrian crisis. The conflict that exists in Syria since March 2011 has caused about 27,000 deaths, while 2.5 million people need humanitarian aid and more than 250,000 have fled to neighboring countries, according to UN figures.

Obama and Romney before his last chance to win the undecided vote


After a grueling 18-month battle came the last day of the election campaign for U.S.President Barack Obama and his rival Republican Mitt Romney , two men in the race for political office attributed the world's most important . Candidates attended hundreds of meetings, fundraising meetings and mayor, spent literally billions of dollars in advertising to attack his opponent, did its best to win the votes of the undecided and participated in three intense debates.
His running mates, the current vice president, Joe Biden, and Rep. Paul Ryan - identified reasons for the aspirations of their leaders, the first lady, Michelle Obama , and Romney's wife, Ann, also attended the matchThis Monday is the last day, the last desperate attempt of the incumbent and the challenger to convince the small number of undecided voters that their policies, their platforms and their approach to lead U.S. from 2013 are the bestWith most polls showing that they are almost as likely to reach the White House, Obama and Romney made ​​his last efforts to mobilize their supporters. "I need you, Ohio," Obama told a crowd of about 20,000 supporters in Cincinnati, a state in which both candidates are fighting fiercely. "And if you are willing to work with me and knock on some doors with me, if you are willing to vote early for me, make some phone calls for me, take action, we will win Ohio.'ll win this election , "said the president. Both candidates campaigned until late Sunday, with Romney imploring his followers to go out and seek a vote in the handful of states that will decide who the next president. "We have to do a little work in the coming days ... to guarantee us a win on Tuesday night," said McCain at a rally Sunday night in Newport News, Virginia. The stretch shows that the race will be closely fought, with rival candidates and their advisers announcing that rely on their victory after months of campaigning and contradictory trends in the polls. When there are fewer turns clock for Tuesday June, Romney made ​​a surprise raid in Pennsylvania , a state traditionally tilted toward Democrats but Republican strategists say they can win. "Will the White House because we will win in Pennsylvania, "Romney said to a crowd of over 30,000 fans, the Secret Service estimates cited by the Republican campaign team. Obama aides downplayed the trip, when they saw a sign of desperation, within 48 hours of the election. However, a shaft personality, such as former President Bill Clinton, will on Monday in four electoral events for Obama in Pennsylvania to counter Romney's final push in that state. "Ultimately, it is up to you. You have the power," Obama said at a meeting in Concord, New Hampshire. "Right now, in the next two days you will make decisions that will shape this country for decades to come." Obama flew to New Hampshire to take part in Sunday night at an event with Clinton, in which the popular former president put his economic legacy of the Bush men. In a grueling tour, the president and Democratic candidate also moved to Florida, Ohio and Colorado , before going to Wisconsin in the early hours of Monday. The exhaustion was noticed in both candidates last weekend when maintained a frenetic pace before Monday, when both cast the rest. Obama will start in Wisconsin , will continue in Ohio and then in Iowa , the state that launched his campaign in 2008, and will end in his city, ChicagoRomney started the day in the largest of the swing states , Florida . Then head to Virginia and Ohio to return for the last time he started his campaign 18 months ago: New Hampshire. Advisors noted that early voting in Ohio and Florida was evidence that Obama was close to becoming the second Democrat to be reelected president since World War II.