With the debates approaching – albeit their importance debatable – the most perplexing element of the 2012 presidential campaign is this: Barack Obama could win. The condition of the economy suggests otherwise. The general rule is straightforward; when economies are bad, incumbent presidents pay the price. This year, it’s not […] Read more »
For Americans, Being ‘Better Off’ Is a Matter of Perspective
“This president cannot tell us that you are better off today than when he took office,” Mitt Romney said as he accepted the Republican presidential nomination. Since then, “Are you better off?” has become a central theme of the campaign, and is likely to surface next week at the first […] Read more »
Persuadable Voters’ Economic Woes Give Romney an Opening
When it comes to handling women’s health issues and foreign affairs, Dawn Massop Love sides with President Barack Obama. For closing tax loopholes and boosting small businesses, she trusts Mitt Romney to do the job. … Meet one of the persuadable voters who comprise about 18 percent of the likely […] Read more »
Economy Still Weak, but More Feel Secure
Both economists and the Romney campaign are puzzling over the same paradox: The recovery has flagged and yet the country’s mood appears to be improving. Despite months of disappointing-to-dismal economic reports — capped by a Commerce Department release Thursday showing the economy had expanded at an annual pace of just […] Read more »
It Must Be the Polls
Nearly every national poll shows President Obama leading Mitt Romney. … There’s still more than a month until the election. Mr. Obama could lose. Mr. Romney could win. Hanging chads could leave the result up to the Supreme Court. But at the moment it’s rational to conclude that Mr. Obama […] Read more »
Bad Data, Upbeat Voters
Polls suggest rising optimism among Americans about the near-term course of the U.S. economy at the same time that economic forecasters are turning pessimistic and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is so worried about persistently high unemployment that he is unleashing another big, and controversial, round of bond-buying to try […] Read more »