The prize of Pennsylvania in US election 2024

"We need everyone in Pennsylvania to vote. You are going to make the difference in this election," said Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris as she went on a rare door-to-door campaign in Pennsylvania, taking a leaf from the Indian election playbook. Her Republican rival, Donald Trump, also dedicated the final day of campaigning to Pennsylvania. The hard yards put by both the leaders has no doubt reinforced that Pennsylvania is the biggest prize of the 2024 swing states as the presidential election hurtles towards a photo finish.

It is for a reason that foreign media have said this is "Pennsylvania's presidential election". This is so because Pennsylvania, with the maximum electoral votes (19) more than any other battleground state, could possibly determine whether Trump or Harris clinches the White House.

Pennsylvania, however, is not a stranger to its status as a swing state. In fact, 10 of the last 12 White House winners have been correctly picked by Pennsylvanians, data shows. Moreover, the candidate who has won Pennsylvania has also won the swing states of Michigan and Wisconsin -- together known as the "Blue wall" -- in the past eight elections.