Obama wins Minnesota, state maintains Dem streak

MINNEAPOLIS — President Barack Obama has won Minnesota, maintaining the state's long streak of supporting Democrats for president even after Republicans made a last-minute play for the state.

Democrats have taken Minnesota in every presidential election since 1976.

Republicans made Minnesota a battleground in the past few cycles but had largely bypassed it this year until a recent poll showed Mitt Romney closing the gap.

That drew TV ads from both campaigns and a late visit to the state by Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan as well as a top Obama surrogate, former President Bill Clinton.