Presidential race focuses on Ohio

The battleground state of Ohio is now the focus of the presidential race as the number of undecided states dwindles down.

A win for President Bush would put him within one electoral college vote of the 270 needed to claim the White House. If Sen. John Kerry loses Ohio's 20 electoral votes, he would have to win every other remaining state achieve a tie.

If there is a tie, the presidential election would be determined by the U.S. House of Representatives, with each state getting one vote. The Senate would choose the next vice president with each senator getting to cast a vote.

Republicans held a majority in both houses prior to Election Day. They are projected to maintain a majority in the House.

The state of Florida, where the outcome of 2000 presidential balloting was disputed long after Election Day, is projected to go to Bush.

Bush won Ohio in 2000 and most other states are projected to repeat the outcomes of the last presidential election.

A second tier of closely watched states includes Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota with 27 electoral votes.

Bush is projected to claim a majority of the popular vote, unlike 2000 when he lost the popular vote, but won the electoral vote.

CNN has projected Bush to sweep the South and take most Plains states, while Democratic Sen. John Kerry is projected to win much of the Northeastern states as well as Illinois and California.

Exit poll interviews indicate Kerry doing better among women, blacks and younger voters. Bush does better among whites, military veterans and voters who go to church weekly.

A record turnout is predicted as voters choose the man they want in the White House for the next four years and the members of Congress he will have to work with on the nation's business. More :: CNN