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PrintThe second US Presidential Debate will be held tonight, and it could go a long way toward helping undecided voters make up their minds between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.
Of particular importance to the candidates will be voters in “Swing States,” the 10 or so states that are up for grabs and could ultimately decide the election. Last month, BetOnline released odds for six swing states, and Democrats held a commanding lead in almost all of them.
But the gap appears to be shrinking.
5Dimes sportsbook posted odds for seven Swing States over the weekend, and Obama is the favorite in four of them (Iowa, New Hampshire, Ohio, Wisconsin), an underdog in one of them (Florida), and a genuine toss up in two others (Colorado, Virginia).
Since the opening odds were released, Obama has lost significant ground in Virginia and Colorado. He was a -240 favorite in both and now those states could go either way.
While the importance of debates tend to get overstated, their effect on Presidential Race odds is profound and undeniable. Before the last debate, Obama was listed at -500 at some books to win the presidency. After the debate, his odds had dropped all the way down to -255.
Earlier this week, he could be found at -200 at most books.
Current odds: Obama -230 / Romney +190.
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Odds via 5Dimes
Colorado
Obama -120
Romney -120
Florida
Obama +120
Romney -160
Iowa
Obama -185
Romney +140
New Hampshire
Obama -290
Romney +210
Ohio
Obama -230
Romney +170
Virginia
Obama -120
Romney -120
Wisconsin
Obama -310
Romney +230
