Why the presidential election could run past Nov. 6

Obama and Romney have entered the final sprint for the finish line as each candidate tours the swing states, hoping to rally support for their candidacy. Within two weeks, voters will go to the polls and decide the outcome of a race almost two years in the making. 

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Obama has launched a new ad asking for votes after touting the economic progress of the past four years. Meanwhile, Romney launched an ad, criticizing the president for claiming we have dictated to other nations in the past countering, "We have freed other nations from dictators."
As the ad wars heat up, pollsters are looking closely for any trends. The general consensus seems to be that Obama bested Romney in Monday's foreign policy debate with several sound bites going viral and spawning memes on the internet. 

The consensus is also that Romney is enjoying a slim lead over the President in both the popular vote and in momentum, but that momentum has slowed. Obama has the advantage in electoral votes. Neither candidate has the race won. 

About 11 swing states will decide the outcome of the race, with Ohio widely seen as the key to victory. Within Ohio, it is a question of counties, and even small towns. 

Romney it is suggested, faces the greater challenge, still needing to convince a slim margin of undecided voters that he is the candidate for the job. 

The election could even be so close that absentee ballots may make the difference, and recounts could be ordered. This happened in 2000 with George W. Bush winning a narrow victory over Al Gore in Florida. The recount was argued all the way up to the US Supreme Court and gave Bush the election despite his losing by a small margin, the popular vote. 

Romney may find himself in the same position as polls suggest he is now the slightly more popular candidate. Much of this popularity is credited to his strong performance in the first debate where he handily defeated Obama and appeared more presidential than the president, who sounded unconfident and uncomfortable. 

Obama chalked the loss up to a bad night. 

Analysts say had Obama performed better, the race might be finished. 

Both candidates are now working the crowds, hoping to convince the last few voters to decide in their favor. With the outcome uncertain, the next two weeks - or more, could prove to be the most contentious yet in the race for the White House. 

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