U.S. Republican presidential nominee and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney laughs while standing in his campaign plane in Sterling, Virginia, October 18, 2012. (Photo : Reuters)
President Barack Obama is likely to lose three states on Election Day 2012 that he won in 2008 to challenger Mitt Romney.
In 2008, Obama won with 365 Electoral College Votes against Arizona Senator John McCain's 173 votes.
The votes included 55 Electoral College votes from Florida (27 votes), North Carolina (15), and Virginia (13).
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Now in 2012, the Electoral College votes have slightly altered and could be going "red" for former Massachusetts Governor Romney.
North Carolina and Virginia maintained the same number of Electoral College votes as 2008 but Florida has increased from 27 to 29 votes.
According to projections and polling data gathered by Real Clear Politics (RCP), Virginia and Florida are "toss up" states and could go for either candidate.
RCP polling averages show Romney leading Obama by 1.8 percent in Florida, precisely 48.4 percent to 46.6 percent for Obama.
Virginia meanwhile shows a statistical tie with each candidate receiving 48 percent.
However, with the polling data collected by RCP and if the election was to occur today, Romney will be winning 52 Electoral College votes from Florida (29) and Virginia (13).
North Carolina is not considered a "toss up" state but a "Leans Romney" category on RCP.
Polling data from North Carolina show the former governor with a 5.6 percent lead. A RCP average show Romney with 50.3 percent to Obama's 44.7 percent.
In 2008, Obama narrowly won the state with 49.7 percent to McCain's 49.4 percent.
To win the presidency, 270 Electoral College votes are needed, and RCP shows Obama leading, and winning, with 281 votes to Romney's 257 once the "toss up" states are put to choose a candidate. With the "toss up" states off the totals, it gives 131 votes up in the air and Romney with a narrow lead of 206 votes to Obama's 201 votes.
