High Court Hands Obama Campaign a Victory in Ohio

As Ohio goes, so goes the election and the latest battle to win the crucial swing state's 18 electoral votes presumably goes to President Obama.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court turned back an appeal to block Ohio's early voting in the three days leading up to Election Day, November 6th.

Traditionally, early voting benefits the Democratic candidate since minorities and the poor tend to take advantage of it, often in the final 72 hours before the rest of the country votes on Election Day

Responding to the decision by the nine justices not to hear the appeal brought by Ohio's Republican secretary of state and attorney general, Obama campaign general counsel Bob Bauer said, "This action from the highest court in the land marks the end of the road in our fight to ensure open voting this year for all Ohioans, including military, veterans, and overseas voters."

The Supreme Court essentially upheld a lower court ruling that stated if Ohio allows early voting to military members in the last days before Election Day, all civilian residents must be able to take advantage of it as well.

It's an axiom of the presidential campaign that a Republican, in this case, nominee Mitt Romney, can't win the White House without also winning Ohio.