又是美國大選年，每天的新聞都少不了兩黨總統候選人的罵戰。至于最后誰能獲勝，起決定性作用的其實是那些對兩黨都沒有明顯支持傾向的州，也就是purple state（紫色州）。

A purple state is a state with a vote which is typically closely divided between Democratic and Republican candidates at election time. As a result, such states can become important areas for electoral contests, with candidates fighting to get the majority of the vote so that they can win. The “purple” in the name is a reference to the fact that as election results come in, states are typically colored red or blue to indicate a win by a Republican or Democratic candidate, and purple is a blend of these two colors.

紫色州（purple state）指在選舉期間民主黨和共和黨候選人得到的支持率很接近、不相上下的一些州。由此，這些州在競選過程中就變得尤為重要，總統候選人都努力想要爭得這些州大部分的選票，以保證自己最終能夠獲勝。這里用“紫色”是因為，隨著競選結果逐步呈現，支持共和黨的州都顯示為紅色，支持民主黨的州顯示藍色，而紫色就是紅色和藍色混合之后呈現的顏色。

You may also hear a purple state called a swing state, because the vote can swing either way, or as a battleground state, in a reference to the fact that candidates sink serious resources into purple states, often long before the election. The outcome of the vote in such states can become crucial, with most candidates relying on a base of states which vote in a dependable way, and focusing on the purple states to fight for the win.

紫色州也被稱為“搖擺州”，意即這個州的選票可能偏向任何一方；有時也被稱作“戰場州”，說的是總統候選人通常會在選舉開始之前就向這些州投入大量的資源。紫色州的投票結果至關重要，大部分候選人都會在已獲得絕對支持州選票的基礎上，集中精力爭奪紫色州的選票來贏得最后的勝利。

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（中國日報網英語點津 Helen）

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