National Journal profiles the   following 20 states that promise   to be the focus of attention   between now and Election Day.  • ARIZONA    • ARKANSAS    • COLORADO    • FLORIDA    • IOWA    • LOUISIANA    • MAINE    • MICHIGAN    • MINNESOTA    • MISSOURI    • NEVADA    • NEW HAMPSHIRE    • NEW MEXICO    • NORTH CAROLINA    • OHIO    • OREGON    • PENNSYLVANIA    • WASHINGTON    • WEST VIRGINIA    • WISCONSIN    • CAMPAIGN TIP SHEETS     This special report originally   appeared in the July 24   "Convention Preview" issue   of National Journal.

By James A. Barnes, National Journal
© National Journal Group Inc.
Friday, Aug. 27, 2004

It's not exactly a case of harmonic convergence, but John Kerry and George W. Bush agree that select clusters of states -- territory that omits much of the country and most of its major population centers -- will decide the 2004 presidential election.

Forget New York, L.A., and Chicago. Say hello to Milwaukee, Orlando, and Columbus.

The itineraries of both candidates are homed in on about 20 states, where the battle is already being intensely waged -- so much so that at times it seems like the two contenders could slug it out mano a mano.

On July 31, when both candidates were crisscrossing the battleground states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia by bus, their caravans came within a half hour of passing each other on Interstate 70 in western Pennsylvania. On August 4, Bush and Kerry did finally intersect in Davenport, Iowa, a city of fewer than 100,000 people. As Kerry discussed the economy with downtown business leaders, Bush addressed a rally on the banks of the Mississippi. While the local police were preoccupied with simultaneously securing both events, three banks in town were robbed.

There weren't any big heists reported when the candidates hooked up again on August 13, this time in Portland, Ore. There, Kerry addressed a huge downtown rally just a few miles from where Bush announced the awarding of federal funds for deepening the Columbia River channel. The local television stations added drama to the close encounter by broadcasting split-screen views of the Bush and Kerry campaign stops.

Even "The Boss" is obsessed with this fall's battleground. Along with more than a dozen other entertainers, Bruce Springsteen will participate in October's "Vote for Change" concert tour to raise money for the Democratic "527" group America Coming Together. He's set to hit nine swing states and to bypass his native New Jersey.

National Journal profiles 20 states that promise to be the focus of attention for both presidential candidates between now and Election Day:

Arizona  · Arkansas  · Colorado  · Florida · Iowa · Louisiana · Maine · Michigan · Minnesota · Missouri · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Mexico · North Carolina · Ohio · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin

For more information on individual races throughout the country, see NationalJournal.com's Campaign Tip Sheets.