shrinking – adj. smaller number
battleground – adj. states with very hard fought elections
barrage – n. a great amount of something that comes quickly and continuously
knock – v. to hit something (such as a door) with the knuckles of your hand or with a hard object
disenfranchise – v. to prevent a person or group of people from having the right to vote
petition – n. a written document that people sign to show that they want a person or organization to do or change something