As an American who happens to teach about Political Science, I can confidently say the U.S. election is going to be decided in a few key (swing) states (ie. Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Iowa, Florida, Virginia, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Missouri). Polls show that voters in the battleground states narrowly favored Obama, by a 48-to-46 percent margin. Other surveys generally show the president holding slight leads over Romney in all but two of the battleground states - Missouri and North Carolina. Obama has moved marginally ahead in several national surveys as well, or, at worst, is tied with Romney.
With the election being waged in the battleground states, the candidates have barely visit some of the country’s most populous states - New York, California, Illinois and Texas - and then just long enough to tap the pockets of some of their wealthiest supporters for campaign donations. The reason is simple: Voter surveys show that Obama is handily ahead in liberal-oriented New York, California and his home state of Illinois, while Romney is expected to easily carry the conservative southern state of Texas.
The U.S. - unlike many democracies throughout the world -- does not elect its leader through a direct popular vote. The popular vote winner in each state collects all of the electoral votes from that state. The national popular vote does not determine the winner, the candidate with the most number of electoral votes wins.
I hope this helps.
it does help. in more ways than one. ive been trying to get all 50 states of america, (all started cos me and a mate watched the friends episode in which ross has to name all 50 states, he never does it). New bloody hampshire! get in! got to 46 now.
Did the 50 states and the '92' on the journey home from Blackpool. It made the journey fly by and we got them all - even though I ended up on the M6 toll road by mistake as I was concentrating on all the 'New' American states........
As an American who happens to teach about Political Science, I can confidently say the U.S. election is going to be decided in a few key (swing) states (ie. Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Iowa, Florida, Virginia, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Missouri). Polls show that voters in the battleground states narrowly favored Obama, by a 48-to-46 percent margin. Other surveys generally show the president holding slight leads over Romney in all but two of the battleground states - Missouri and North Carolina. Obama has moved marginally ahead in several national surveys as well, or, at worst, is tied with Romney.
With the election being waged in the battleground states, the candidates have barely visit some of the country’s most populous states - New York, California, Illinois and Texas - and then just long enough to tap the pockets of some of their wealthiest supporters for campaign donations. The reason is simple: Voter surveys show that Obama is handily ahead in liberal-oriented New York, California and his home state of Illinois, while Romney is expected to easily carry the conservative southern state of Texas.
The U.S. - unlike many democracies throughout the world -- does not elect its leader through a direct popular vote. The popular vote winner in each state collects all of the electoral votes from that state. The national popular vote does not determine the winner, the candidate with the most number of electoral votes wins.
I hope this helps.
Don't think Missouri, north Carolina, Michigan or nh will be that close. Colarado, Nevada are more swingy
Romney is a proven liar and throughout his career has done more u turns than the lib dems just to get him one step closer to being president. What worries me the most is that if he gets in, it will set a trend that candidates can make up stats and studies, rather than just put spin on things to fit what they're saying, which is precisely what Romney is doing.
Despite how much I love the US, the fact that many support political parties like a sports team terrifies me. Even though I see myself as a conservative, there are things that the conservatives have done or plan to do that don't fit in with what I think a conservative is. American conservatives tend to think a conservative is whatever the republican candidate is saying a conservative is.
Bush was nothing compared to this bloke. Even though I think Obama has been a fairly poor president, I still hope he wins a second term. That's how poor I think Romney is.
As an American who happens to teach about Political Science, I can confidently say the U.S. election is going to be decided in a few key (swing) states (ie. Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Iowa, Florida, Virginia, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Missouri). Polls show that voters in the battleground states narrowly favored Obama, by a 48-to-46 percent margin. Other surveys generally show the president holding slight leads over Romney in all but two of the battleground states - Missouri and North Carolina. Obama has moved marginally ahead in several national surveys as well, or, at worst, is tied with Romney.
With the election being waged in the battleground states, the candidates have barely visit some of the country’s most populous states - New York, California, Illinois and Texas - and then just long enough to tap the pockets of some of their wealthiest supporters for campaign donations. The reason is simple: Voter surveys show that Obama is handily ahead in liberal-oriented New York, California and his home state of Illinois, while Romney is expected to easily carry the conservative southern state of Texas.
The U.S. - unlike many democracies throughout the world -- does not elect its leader through a direct popular vote. The popular vote winner in each state collects all of the electoral votes from that state. The national popular vote does not determine the winner, the candidate with the most number of electoral votes wins.
I hope this helps.
it does help. in more ways than one. ive been trying to get all 50 states of america, (all started cos me and a mate watched the friends episode in which ross has to name all 50 states, he never does it). New bloody hampshire! get in! got to 46 now.
yeah...slow thursday night...
popular vote doesn't win here - most MP's wins here.
Romney is a proven liar and throughout his career has done more u turns than the lib dems just to get him one step closer to being president. What worries me the most is that if he gets in, it will set a trend that candidates can make up stats and studies, rather than just put spin on things to fit what they're saying, which is precisely what Romney is doing.
Despite how much I love the US, the fact that many support political parties like a sports team terrifies me. Even though I see myself as a conservative, there are things that the conservatives have done or plan to do that don't fit in with what I think a conservative is. American conservatives tend to think a conservative is whatever the republican candidate is saying a conservative is.
Bush was nothing compared to this bloke. Even though I think Obama has been a fairly poor president, I still hope he wins a second term. That's how poor I think Romney is.
Very good post, although I think Obama has been a good president in exceptionally difficult times.
he was going through what the media thought when it came to who won the vice president debate. some were saying if you listened to it on the radio paul ryan had won it but if you watched it on tv then joe biden won it. a political reporter for CNN (i think) said that if you have the sound down on the TV then paul ryan had lost. Who does that for a debate? It got so ridiculously that they got a computer to mark all the points across paul ryans face to mark his facial expressions. Then from that you can tell whether he was under pressure or not. The news coverage is so dramatic that it becomes no longer laughable but actually quite worrying.
he was going through what the media thought when it came to who won the vice president debate. some were saying if you listened to it on the radio paul ryan had won it but if you watched it on tv then joe biden won it. a political reporter for CNN (i think) said that if you have the sound down on the TV then paul ryan had lost. Who does that for a debate? It got so ridiculously that they got a computer to mark all the points across paul ryans face to mark his facial expressions. Then from that you can tell whether he was under pressure or not. The news coverage is so dramatic that it becomes no longer laughable but actually quite worrying.
The Daily Show is fantastic, that they manage to consistently put out such consistently good stuff on a daily basis is incredible.
It is gonna be a close one. I go for Obama. He has not shaken too many trees during his first term, but during a second 'nothing to lose' term I would hope that he'll be a little more radical and adventurous and not just orate a good fight. Obama has found that there is a huge difference between promising stuff and delivering it. I think that the realities of 'power' have left him a wee bit disillusioned. All in all I think that he is a good man.
Been watching it most nights for the last few months. Watched his debate with Bill Riley as well. It is a shame we don't get to see Bill Maher over here.
I don't think Romney is that scary. The problem is that in order to get the Republican Nomination these days candidates have to pander to the crazy Tea Party activists and right wing religious freaks that seem to have become more dominant ove the last few years.
If the polls don't improve over the next week I hope the Democrats stoop to the same level as the Republicans and launch a full on nasty smear campagn againt Romney. After the lies about John Kerry's war record that the Republicans used in 2004 and constant sniping about Obama's religious connections, and even his place of birth, I don't think the Republicans can complain.
It is gonna be a close one. I go for Obama. He has not shaken too many trees during his first term, but during a second 'nothing to lose' term I would hope that he'll be a little more radical and adventurous and not just orate a good fight. Obama has found that there is a huge difference between promising stuff and delivering it. I think that the realities of 'power' have left him a wee bit disillusioned. All in all I think that he is a good man.
Agree with this.
Most people hugely estimate the power the US President has. He has a pretty free hand in foreign policy but for anything else he wants to get done domestically he has to work through congress.
A lot of Presidents, and Obama is one of them, have found that very difficult. Kennedy was absolutely hopeless at it - didn't get any legislation through. LBJ on the other hand, was a genius, knoew just how to work Congress getting civil rights bills, medicare and manty other things through that no one else could have.
Where I think Obama has failed is that he under-estimated the strength of the opposition to him and the tenacity. From day one the Republican party has tried every tick to de-rail his presidency and embarrass him politically from blatant obstructionism to dragging out the birth certificate thing to the point where it became a joke.
Obama hasn't helped himself either, he's tried to be a bit above politics and hasn't stooped down and got his hands dirty fighting it out over health reform and budget extensions. As a consequence he lost control of the headlines and has looked too defensive.
The benefit that LBJ had over Kennedy was that he had been a Senator and Congressman for over two decades and knew everyone in Washington and knew enough about them to get them on his side. So powerful was he in Congress in the late 50s that many people were surprised that he agreed to run as Kennedy's VP which to all intents was a demotion.
But who knew that he's up with the top job after Kennedy's assassination...
Willard Romney (Willard is Mitt's real name, BTW), spent four years as governor of Massachusetts, my state. Except for the 417 days in those four years that he was out-of-state on personal matters setting the stage for a presidential run (but that is another story). Romney is further behind in the polls in Massachusetts than in any other state. So the people that know him best like him least!
Ann Romney says Mitt Romney is pro-life but campaigned as pro-choice, in defense of her husband's positions on abortion. As former Presidential candidate and fellow Republican, Mormon and ex-Governor John Huntsman said of Romney" "He a well-oiled weather vane."
Willard "Mitt" Romney is America's most notable political flip flopper, taking whatever position he thinks will advance his only core value - himself!
There are many of these videos out there as proof:
No doubt this is a close race, Romney hopefully will pull it off. It's a pity that most of the political commentary that reaches England from here comes through the left-leaning press. Another four years of Obama will be disastrous, ask anyone here who has to work for a living. Those on any kind of government hand-out will vote for Obama again, that's roughly 47% of the populace, the rest of us are paying all of the mis-spent taxes. The per-household share of the national debt is now over $47,000, the REAL unemployment rate is over 12%, health insurance rates are climbing daily, and fuel prices have doubled during Obama's term. Try living here for the last four years and then hope for four more of Obama, unless you work for the government or are on the doll, that is.
Those videos are both hilarious and bloody scary! The quote about Mitt not being pro or anti choice, but multiple choice was spot on.
I hope beyond hope that Obama is re-elected. I can't say I have faith in the American people getting it right or that a vast number will think nothing wrong with the flip-flop politics that Romney employs.
Didn't Harry Enfield have a character that changed his opinion every time he spoke with one of his mates in the bar?
That's Mitt...better hope that there's a button next to the big red one that turns off the warhead when he changes his mind after firing! Very frightening for us all if he gets in.
The arrogance and amnesia of Republicans like the one a few posts above is staggering, but not at all surprising, their man GWB cratered the economy and took them into two utterly pointless and ruinously expensive wars and what is their response? Blame Obama!
Anyone notice how GWB has been airbrushed from history? Say what you like about Bush but at least he was a consistent Conservative, you at least knew where he was coming from.
Romney? Here's a guy who tells all the redneck, religious, rightwing nutters in the primaries how he's going to sort out Iran and use the might of the millitary to re-assert American power - he then turns up at the 3rd debate and performs a John Lennon/Yoko Ono impersonation.
No doubt this is a close race, Romney hopefully will pull it off. It's a pity that most of the political commentary that reaches England from here comes through the left-leaning press. Another four years of Obama will be disastrous, ask anyone here who has to work for a living. Those on any kind of government hand-out will vote for Obama again, that's roughly 47% of the populace, the rest of us are paying all of the mis-spent taxes. The per-household share of the national debt is now over $47,000, the REAL unemployment rate is over 12%, health insurance rates are climbing daily, and fuel prices have doubled during Obama's term. Try living here for the last four years and then hope for four more of Obama, unless you work for the government or are on the doll, that is.
Comments
in more ways than one. ive been trying to get all 50 states of america, (all started cos me and a mate watched the friends episode in which ross has to name all 50 states, he never does it).
New bloody hampshire! get in! got to 46 now.
yeah...slow thursday night...
'New', ay?....hmmm.....
Despite how much I love the US, the fact that many support political parties like a sports team terrifies me. Even though I see myself as a conservative, there are things that the conservatives have done or plan to do that don't fit in with what I think a conservative is. American conservatives tend to think a conservative is whatever the republican candidate is saying a conservative is.
Bush was nothing compared to this bloke. Even though I think Obama has been a fairly poor president, I still hope he wins a second term. That's how poor I think Romney is.
he was going through what the media thought when it came to who won the vice president debate.
some were saying if you listened to it on the radio paul ryan had won it but if you watched it on tv then joe biden won it.
a political reporter for CNN (i think) said that if you have the sound down on the TV then paul ryan had lost. Who does that for a debate?
It got so ridiculously that they got a computer to mark all the points across paul ryans face to mark his facial expressions. Then from that you can tell whether he was under pressure or not.
The news coverage is so dramatic that it becomes no longer laughable but actually quite worrying.
I don't think Romney is that scary. The problem is that in order to get the Republican Nomination these days candidates have to pander to the crazy Tea Party activists and right wing religious freaks that seem to have become more dominant ove the last few years.
If the polls don't improve over the next week I hope the Democrats stoop to the same level as the Republicans and launch a full on nasty smear campagn againt Romney. After the lies about John Kerry's war record that the Republicans used in 2004 and constant sniping about Obama's religious connections, and even his place of birth, I don't think the Republicans can complain.
I think the Mormon Church and its recent racist past is a starting point nytimes.com/2012/08/19/opinion/sunday/racism-and-the-mormon-church.html?_r=0
And then there is his draft dodging past! youtube.com/watch?v=8RzxVdLQWmg
Most people hugely estimate the power the US President has. He has a pretty free hand in foreign policy but for anything else he wants to get done domestically he has to work through congress.
A lot of Presidents, and Obama is one of them, have found that very difficult. Kennedy was absolutely hopeless at it - didn't get any legislation through. LBJ on the other hand, was a genius, knoew just how to work Congress getting civil rights bills, medicare and manty other things through that no one else could have.
Obama hasn't helped himself either, he's tried to be a bit above politics and hasn't stooped down and got his hands dirty fighting it out over health reform and budget extensions. As a consequence he lost control of the headlines and has looked too defensive.
The benefit that LBJ had over Kennedy was that he had been a Senator and Congressman for over two decades and knew everyone in Washington and knew enough about them to get them on his side. So powerful was he in Congress in the late 50s that many people were surprised that he agreed to run as Kennedy's VP which to all intents was a demotion.
But who knew that he's up with the top job after Kennedy's assassination...
Romney is further behind in the polls in Massachusetts than in any other state.
So the people that know him best like him least!
As former Presidential candidate and fellow Republican, Mormon and ex-Governor John Huntsman said of Romney" "He a well-oiled weather vane."
Willard "Mitt" Romney is America's most notable political flip flopper, taking whatever position he thinks will advance his only core value - himself!
There are many of these videos out there as proof:
This one is a lot shorter, but very entertaining ... Mitt, in his own words:
Pretty sure that Obama will be re-elected.
I hope beyond hope that Obama is re-elected. I can't say I have faith in the American people getting it right or that a vast number will think nothing wrong with the flip-flop politics that Romney employs.
Didn't Harry Enfield have a character that changed his opinion every time he spoke with one of his mates in the bar?
That's Mitt...better hope that there's a button next to the big red one that turns off the warhead when he changes his mind after firing! Very frightening for us all if he gets in.
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/
The arrogance and amnesia of Republicans like the one a few posts above is staggering, but not at all surprising, their man GWB cratered the economy and took them into two utterly pointless and ruinously expensive wars and what is their response? Blame Obama!
Anyone notice how GWB has been airbrushed from history? Say what you like about Bush but at least he was a consistent Conservative, you at least knew where he was coming from.
Romney? Here's a guy who tells all the redneck, religious, rightwing nutters in the primaries how he's going to sort out Iran and use the might of the millitary to re-assert American power - he then turns up at the 3rd debate and performs a John Lennon/Yoko Ono impersonation.
Utterly cynical and extremely dangerous.