One key state is keeping Trump competitive

A woman kneels to take a back break while waiting in line at a weekend early voting polling place at the North Hollywood branch library in Los Angeles. Photo / AP

There's been some movement towards Donald Trump in both national and swing state polling over the past week.

Trump's problem is that, at least as of today, it's just not enough.

There are too many swing states that appear to have already slipped out of his grasp for relatively minor movement to drastically increase his chances of winning the 270 electoral votes he needs to beat Hillary Clinton.

Still, for Trump, who has weathered a terrible last month of the campaign, any positive news is welcome.

The big move in our Post electoral ratings this week is that Florida goes from "lean Democratic" to "toss-up".

Polling in Florida has tightened over the past week. The RealClearPolitics polling average shows Trump with a +0.5 lead in Florida; a New York Times/Siena poll out yesterday showed Trump up four.

Remember that winning Florida isn't a luxury for Trump - it's a necessity.

If Clinton wins the 18 states (plus DC) that every Democratic presidential nominee has carried between 1992 and 2012, she has 242 electoral votes. Add Florida's 29 to that total and Clinton is at 271 and the election is over.

What Florida's move means for Trump then is that a viable pathway to victory now exists. What it doesn't mean is that the map is tilting in his favour. It isn't. (Trump's camp is making noise about the newfound competitiveness of New Mexico, Michigan and Wisconsin. The polling in that trio of states doesn't suggest any of them are that competitive.)

Clinton still has 294 electoral votes solidly in her camp or leaning her way. Trump has only 180. If Trump wins ALL four states the Post currently rates as "toss-ups" - which includes Florida - he's still 26 electoral votes short of 270.

WASHINGTON POST LIST OF COMPETITIVE STATES:

Toss-up (64 electoral votes)

Arizona (11)

Florida (29)*

Ohio (18)

Utah (6)

Lean Democratic (98 electoral votes)

Colorado (9)

Maine 2nd district (1)

Michigan (16)

Minnesota (10)

Nevada (6)

New Hampshire (4)

New Mexico (5)

North Carolina (15)

Pennsylvania (20)

Virginia (13)

Wisconsin (10)

Lean Republican (74 electoral votes)

Alaska (3)

Georgia (16)

Indiana (11)

Iowa (6)

Missouri (10)

Texas (38)

* moved benefiting Trump

WHAT RCP SAYS:

ELECTORAL COLLEGE
270 votes needed to win election
263 safe Clinton (leads by +5)
164 safe Trump (leads by +5)

Leans Clinton
Colorado +4, 9 EC
North Carolina +3, 15 EC votes

Toss-up Clinton
Nevada +1.5, 6 EC votes
Arizona +0.6, 11 EC votes

Toss-up Trump
Florida +0.5, 29 EC votes
Ohio +1.3, 18 EC votes
Iowa +1.4, 6 EC votes

Leans Trump
Georgia +3.6, 16 EC votes