While Mitt Romney has attributed his defeat, in part, to “gifts” President Obama was able to shower on key constituencies, a Republican National Committee report on the election points to other reasons — like changing demographics, Hurricane Sandy, George W. Bush, and the failure to win over the middle class. […] Read more »
The 2004 October Surprise, and What It Means for 2012
John Kerry believed he would have been the 44th president of the United States had it not been for the surprise surfacing of a new Osama bin Laden videotape the Friday before the 2004 election (October 29). This was one of the few points of agreement between Kerry and George […] Read more »
Are you better off than four years ago?
… A new national survey indicates that a plurality of registered voters say they’re not better off. But a majority continue to blame former President George W. Bush and Republicans for the country’s economic problems. [cont.] CNN Read more »
Economic ups and downs of the presidency
… Here is a look at how the stock market and unemployment rate during President Obama’s time in the White House stack up against recent incumbent presidents vying for a second term. [cont.] Karen Yourish and Laura Stanton, Washington Post Read more »
Swing-State Voters Say They Are No Better Off Than in 2008
A majority of voters in key 2012 election swing states say they are not better off than they were four years ago; 40% say they are better off. Swing-state voters’ assessments of their situation compared with 2008 have varied little since last fall. [cont.] Jeffrey M. Jones, Gallup Read more »
George W. Bush only living ex-president under 50%
More than three years after leaving office, former President George W. Bush remains unpopular with the public, according to a new national poll. A CNN/ORC International poll also indicates that two-thirds of Americans have a positive view of Bush’s predecessor, former President Bill Clinton. [cont.] CNN Read more »