A look at the states which might decide the US presidential election. The number of electoral votes is in parenthesis. The winner needs 270 votes.

Alabama (9) - Safe for Romney.

Alaska (3) - Romney will win.

Arizona (11) - Romney should win

Arkansas (6) - Romney territory.

California (55) - Obama gets the biggest state.

Colorado (9) - Presidential battleground state.

Connecticut (7) - Safely Obama's.

Delaware (3) - Obama's with ease.

District of Columbia (3) - Obama's, overwhelmingly.

Florida (29) - Biggest presidential battleground.

Georgia (16) - Part of Romney's Southern base.

Hawaii (4) - Obama a winner in his home state.

Idaho (4) - Safe as can be for Romney.

Illinois (20) - State that sent Obama to the Senate will vote for him again.

Indiana (11) - Safe for Romney, four years after Obama won it.

Iowa (6) - Presidential battleground.

Kansas (6) - Reliably for Romney.

Kentucky (8) - Safe for Romney.

Louisiana (8) - Another southern state for Romney.

Maine (4) - Obama favoured for state, but Republicans talk of winning one electoral vote.

Maryland (10) - Obama an easy winner.

Massachusetts (11) - Obama wins the state where Romney was governor.

Michigan (16) - Despite late GOP ads, Obama favoured in state that benefited most from auto bailout.

Minnesota (10) - Lining up for Obama despite late Republican push.

Mississippi (6) - Romney will win easily.

Missouri (10) - Romney territory.

Montana (3) - A Western win for Romney.

Nebraska (5) - Romney's with ease.

Nevada (6) - Western presidential battleground.

New Hampshire (4) - New England battleground.

New Jersey (14) - Obama.

New Mexico (5) - Obama.

New York (29) - Big for Obama.

North Carolina (15) - May be Romney's best battleground state.

North Dakota (3) - Safe for Romney.

Ohio (18) - Battleground of battlegrounds for Obama and Romney.

Oklahoma (7) - Romney's easily.

Oregon (7) - West Coast win for Obama.

Pennsylvania (20) - Should be Obama's, despite late push by Romney.

Rhode Island (4) - Obama's with ease.

South Carolina (9) - Romney will win easily.

South Dakota (3) - Republican state for Romney.

Tennessee (11) - Romney with ease.

Texas (38) - Romney's biggest single-state prize.

Utah (6) - Mormon votes could make this Romney's best state.

Vermont (3) - Obama territory.

Virginia (13) - Battleground presidential state.

Washington (12) - Obama winning easily.

West Virginia (5) - Romney by far.

Wisconsin (10) - Battleground in White House race.

Wyoming (3) - Romney's with ease.