National Journal takes a close look at the swing states likely to determine the outcome of the 2008 presidential election.

Michigan: The Depressed State

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• From The Trail: Embed Reports
• Campaign Tracker

The Wolverine State is reeling from a one-two punch on jobs and housing.
• Almanac Profile

Iowa: Where Politics Is Personal

The Hawkeye State was one of only two to switch to red in 2004; the GOP nominee and the state have never shown much fondness for each other.
• Almanac Profile

New Hampshire: GOP Woes in 'McCain Country'

Few places have been better to McCain than New Hampshire, but the GOP standard-bearer still faces challenges in the state.
• Almanac Profile

Ohio: 2006 All Over Again?

It's difficult to imagine Ohio's climate ever being more favorable to Democratic candidates than it was in 2006. So, can Obama realistically hope to replicate the road map to victory engineered by Brown and Strickland?
• Almanac Profile

Colorado: State of Transition

Four years after Bush carried the state, Colorado is the main front in Obama's battle to expand Democratic gains in the Mountain West.
• Almanac Profile

New Mexico: The Barometer

Hispanics with deep roots could be critical to winning a state with a strong penchant for picking a winner.
• Almanac Profile

Pennsylvania: Schizophrenic State

Politically, regions of the Keystone State have moved sharply in different directions.
• Almanac Profile

Minnesota: GOP Convention State

The party's decision to hold the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul could help McCain win the hearts of suburbanites in the metro area.
• Almanac Profile