Populist Group Post: Countin' Yer County. [View all]

So, a year or more ago, I was watching The Daily Show via On Demand. Brian Williams was the guest. Jon Stewart mentioned something or other relating to the electoral vote. Williams replied something like, "People who really know this stuff tells me it drills down to eight counties." Jon Stewart was stunned. So was I.

We hear every vote counts. We hear about purple states. However, apparently, it's really about purple counties--and not very many of those, either. Take $2.5 billion in donations to only one candidate, add soft money, then divide by the number of people in eight counties. How many hungry people could you feed? Ah, never mind. Hungry people are unmentionable anymore and I hate long division.

Anyway, I googled after hearing that and found stories about 8 counties. Also stories about more counties than that. But, never more than 100 counties. Think about that. All this time, energy, money, etc.

http://www.businessinsider.com/swing-state-counties-florida-ohio-wisconsin-virginia-2012-9 (article has a wonderful pic of Obama carrying a toddler--my favorite kind of Obama pic)

In 2014, the 8 counties were (alphabetically by state):

Jefferson County, Colorado
Hillsborough County, Florida (includes Tampa)
Cedar County, Iowa
Washoe County, Nevada
Hillsborough County, New Hampshire (what are the odds?)
Wood County, Ohio
Henrico County, Virginia
Brown County, Wisconsin

I wonder which counties, and how many counties, will determine the 2016 Presidential election? Keeping abreast of that next year will be important.