2012 Election Results and Analysis

Barack Obama Wins Re-Election

On Tuesday, November 6, 2012, President Barack Obama was re-elected for a second term in office. He defeated Republican challenger Mitt Romney by a margin of 51.1% to 47.2%. Obama won the popular vote by over 5 million votes, and he also won the Electoral College by a comfortable margin of 332 to 206.

Factors Contributing to Obama's Victory

There were several factors that contributed to Obama's victory, including:

• The economy: Obama was able to effectively message that the economy was improving under his leadership, while Romney struggled to make the case that he would be a better steward of the economy.
• Demographics: Obama's coalition of voters was again diverse, including a majority of African Americans, Latinos, and young voters. Romney, on the other hand, was strongest among white voters.
• Romney's campaign: Romney's campaign made a number of mistakes, including his infamous "47%" comment and his decision to focus on attacking Obama rather than offering a positive vision for the country.

The 2012 election was a hard-fought contest, but in the end, Obama was able to secure a second term in office. His victory is a testament to the strength of his coalition of supporters and the weaknesses of his opponent's campaign.