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Many things change in American politics, but this doesn’t – Ohio’s importance in presidential elections.

No Republican has ever won the White House without winning the Buckeye State. In 2004, it was the key battleground that wrapped up the presidential election for George W. Bush. Barack Obama won it in 2008 and 2012.

Given the state’s important role, NBC News has assembled a focus group in Columbus, Ohio to hear directly from these voters -- what we’re dubbing “We The People: Battleground Ohio.”

The focus group – divided evenly between Democratic and Republican voters, Hillary Clinton backers and Donald Trump supporters – was selected through NBC’s polling and own reporting.

So what did these Ohio voters think of the Clinton and Trump performances at Wednesday’s NBC/MSNBC “Commander-in-Chief” forum? Here are their voices: