system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why is such an emphasis placed on only a couple states during the U.S. presidential elections?
gpt
The "swing states".

Most states are typically majority conservative or liberal.  It's a waste of resources to go campaigning there.  The majority party wins all of the electoral votes. 

But certain states are very close to 50/50 splits.  These ones are worth a focus because a few points swing in voting makes a huge difference. 

(It's time to discard the electoral college and restore a popular vote, that's a discussion for another time)