Technically Ohio isn't necessarily for victory, but for the GOP it's a psychological barrier since they've never won without also winning Ohio. Someday they'll win without it, but until then it'll be that head gremlin wrecking the mind engine like how for generations Delaware and Missouri were both bellweather states, but no longer.

Thus the idea that Willard is more or less giving up on Ohio this late in the game is worrysome if you're a GOPer.

Then again a Democrat has never won an election without winning at least one southern (i.e. Southeast) state. Obama could very well break that "rule" next week.