The Economist has launched an online debate on the U.S. elections with the motion “This house believes that Barack Obama deserves to be re-elected”. … Defending the proposition is William A. Galston, Ezra Zilkha Chair, Governance Studies Program, Brookings Institution. Contesting the motion is Michael Barone, Senior political analyst, Washington […] Read more »
Do campaign gaffes matter? Not to voters
Since Friday, the national political conversation has been dominated by a debate over the importance of President Obama’s statement, at a White House press conference, that “The private sector is doing fine.” Unfortunately, most of the media discussion has focused on strategy rather than policy. [cont.] Brendan Nyhan, Dartmouth College […] Read more »
A Chilly Reception from Independents on Obama’s Plans for the Economy
Swing-voting independents see Barack Obama’s plans for the economy negatively rather than positively by 54-38 percent in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll, marking the president’s challenges as he seeks re-election in still-troubled economic times. [cont.] Greg Holyk, ABC News Read more »
Romney’s Economic Reach Threatens Obama
… In the Pennsylvania poll Quinnipiac released today … college-educated whites in Pennsylvania picked Romney over the president as most likely to improve the economy by a resounding 55 percent to 38 percent. … Obama’s decline on that question with white collar whites in Pennsylvania is ominous because he ran […] Read more »
Obama’s ratings sink on economic doubts
President Barack Obama’s approval ratings have dipped to their lowest level since January on deep economic worries, wiping out most of his lead in the White House race over Republican rival Mitt Romney, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed on Tuesday. [cont.] John Whitesides, Reuters Read more »
Obama’s White Base Shows Cracks Compared With 2008
Gallup Daily tracking indicates Barack Obama is receiving less support in the 2012 presidential election from some of the white subgroups that gave him the strongest support in 2008. These include non-Hispanic white registered voters who are 18 to 29 years old, female postgrads, and the nonreligious, among others. [cont.] […] Read more »