# Why is this election so close? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 26, 2012, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-election-so-close/638930 "2012-10-26T13:50:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-election-so-close/638930/41 "2012-10-26T15:59:07Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > A woman is more than just a uterus with legs. Obama doesn’t have respect for women’s rights either: rights like [the right to a speedy and public trial](http://presstv.com/usdetail/261525.html). In the world I live in, I examine the two candidates on the issues, and based on who I agree with more strongly and more often, I vote for that candidate. I don’t agree with Obama on everything, but I agree with him far more often and more strongly than I do with Romney. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-election-so-close/638930/42 "2012-10-26T16:00:27Z")
I’m not convinced the election is all that close. It seems that every four years, there’s one candidate with a convincing lead, and then as the date grows near, the pollsters and pundits absolutely insist that it’s “neck and neck” or “too close to call” or a “dead heat” or some such - always. And then the formerly leading candidate wins by the generally predicted margin. I think the “dead heat” calls are manipulative BS to generate headlines (to draw ad revenue) and nothing more. Politics aside - honestly - I think Obama will win by the kind of margin he’s shown in the last year or so. The “dead heat” nonsense is just that, nonsense ginned up as part of the endless cycle of hype the media tries to pass off for serious journalism. Of course, all best are off if Frankenstorm Sandy smashes the northeast sector just in time to send voting into complete chaos. Mark me down as the first to say this storm could be the Reichstag fire of the 21st century. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-election-so-close/638930/43 "2012-10-26T16:05:55Z")
When your post begins from the assumption that Romney’s 47% comments were a “joke”, it’s no wonder to me that you end up confused. That is an extemely ‘unique’ interpretation of an event, to say the least. GIGO, and all that… ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-election-so-close/638930/44 "2012-10-26T16:07:39Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > He did the best job in that role as was possible. Strange, then, that his approval rating steadily dropped throughout his time in office, down to 39% during his last month. And now Romney holds the distinction of being a former governor whose own state is unlikely elect him for President. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-election-so-close/638930/45 "2012-10-26T16:25:57Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > Strange, then, that his approval rating steadily dropped throughout his time in office, down to 39% during his last month. [Huh](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html)? That may have been what one poll reported, but the consensus of polls for the last nine months is that opinion on Obama’s performance has been evenly split. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-election-so-close/638930/46 "2012-10-26T16:28:25Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > [Huh](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html)? That may have been what one poll reported, but the consensus of polls for the last nine months is that opinion on Obama’s performance has been evenly split. Not Obama, Romney. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-election-so-close/638930/47 "2012-10-26T17:09:16Z")
[QUOTE=Romney] There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe that government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you name it. That that’s an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what. And I mean, the president starts off with 48, 49, 48—he starts off with a huge number. These are people who pay no income tax. Forty-seven percent of Americans pay no income tax. So our message of low taxes doesn’t connect. And he’ll be out there talking about tax cuts for the rich. I mean that’s what they sell every four years. And so my job is not to worry about those people—I’ll never convince them that they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives. [/QUOTE] I’m sorry…what part of that was intended as a joke? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-election-so-close/638930/48 "2012-10-26T18:39:40Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > Strange, then, that his approval rating steadily dropped throughout his time in office, down to 39% during his last month. And now Romney holds the distinction of being a former governor whose own state is unlikely elect him for President. I don’t like Mitt Romney but his approval ratings don’t really mean much. Sometimes the correct decisions are not the popular ones. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-election-so-close/638930/49 "2012-10-26T19:01:51Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > To steal a line from The American President: If Obama was white, he would be the most popular history professor at the University of Chicago. And if Romney were black, where do you think he would be? Interesting how it’s only the race of black people that’s interesting. White people? No benefit from their race whatsoever. Not worth discussing. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-election-so-close/638930/50 "2012-10-26T19:44:07Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I don’t like Mitt Romney but his approval ratings don’t really mean much. Sometimes the correct decisions are not the popular ones. Some, yes. But when your approval rating drops so low, so quickly, that’s a pretty good indication that there was something going on other than merely making unpopular decisions. He was governor for one term, and that’s the only office he’s held. Why shouldn’t we use his approval ratings as an indication of his ability to govern? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-election-so-close/638930/51 "2012-10-26T19:52:06Z")
> [@Mr.Greenjeans](#): > > I’m sorry…what part of that was intended as a joke? The 47% as talking about registered Democrats. Humor through hyperbole. I’m sure his audience of Republicans thought it was funny as hell to characterize all of the Democrats as leeches on the public tit. Look I never said it was a good joke or humorous. Romney always finds the wrong way to express his ideas and he missed the important facet of today’s world - that every can listen to everything you say. Think of explaining why no one in West Virginia needs a dentist. If you’re from Appalachia it’s funny. The problem is that you have to be one of them or it’s an insult and Romney doesn’t understand that. Oh and he has absolutely no personality to pull of a joke like that. Obama could joke that “45% [Republicans] of Americans drink milk and listen to Osmand music. The men want multiple wives to do the housework and the sister wives like it because they only have to carry out marital duties once per month. 45% of Americans are rich and don’t understand what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck and believe they are entitled to get richer at the expense of the middle class.” and I honestly believe it would be funny as hell. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-election-so-close/638930/52 "2012-10-26T20:00:49Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > The 47% as talking about registered Democrats. Humor through hyperbole. I’m sure his audience of Republicans thought it was funny as hell to characterize all of the Democrats as leeches on the public tit. I don’t want to pile on - it seems like your OP is a sincerely asked question and all that. I respect that. But the 47% was the percentage who pay no income tax - he explicitly says so in the quote. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-election-so-close/638930/53 "2012-10-26T20:01:18Z")
1. Please give me your definition of the word “joke”. 2. I don’t remember hearing the audience laughing in the clip. Did you hear laughter in that clip? ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-election-so-close/638930/54 "2012-10-26T20:04:12Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > Strange, then, that his approval rating steadily dropped throughout his time in office, down to 39% during his last month. And now Romney holds the distinction of being a former governor whose own state is unlikely elect him for President. Not strange at all when you consider that MA has five times as many democratic voters than republican ones. ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-election-so-close/638930/55 "2012-10-26T20:05:58Z")
I wonder if some of this narrowing of the gap that the media suckles on to like a mother’s teet isn’t just a little manufacturing of hype for ratings. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-election-so-close/638930/56 "2012-10-26T20:06:03Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > And if Romney were black, where do you think he would be? Given his background, experience and skills and having the benefit of being black he would certainly be president already, possibly already done serving both his terms. > [@](#): > > Interesting how it’s only the race of black people that’s interesting. White people? No benefit from their race whatsoever. Not worth discussing. Quote where I said that or retract it. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-election-so-close/638930/57 "2012-10-26T20:11:25Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > Given his background, experience and skills and having the benefit of being black he would certainly be president already, possibly already done serving both his terms. Bwahahahaha! Because if Romney were black, he’d also have a dad who had been governor, right? He’d almost certainly have the same socioeconomic background that privileged his upbringing, right? I didn’t say “leave everything else the same and change his skin tone,” because that’d have nothing to do with how race actually works. > [@](#): > > Quote where I said that or retract it. I implied that you didn’t think it was worth discussing. Of course I can’t quote where you discussed it. Don’t be ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-election-so-close/638930/58 "2012-10-26T20:11:52Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > Given his background, experience and skills and having the benefit of being black he would certainly be president already, possibly already done serving both his terms. Oh yeah- I forgot that in the right wing fantasy world, being black was a political benefit. Must explain all the black presidents we’ve had, and all the black senators we currently have. Obviously. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-election-so-close/638930/59 "2012-10-26T20:15:08Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Oh yeah- I forgot that in the right wing fantasy world, being black was a political benefit. Not to mention Latino! Too bad George was just BORN in Mexico instead of actually being ethnic Mexican, right? ---
**Author:** ![Catballou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Catballou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catballou)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-election-so-close/638930/60 "2012-10-26T20:20:46Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > I urge you to consider voting for Romney. I lived in MA when he was governor. He did the best job in that role as was possible. He is much more conservative and even libertarian leaning than he is given credit for. He regularly filled in as guest host on a local radio station when he was governor and always impressed me with his wide range of knowledge on the issues and his straightforward talk. > > Sure, he governed a bit more from the left when he was running a state with five times as many Democrats as Republicans in it. Also true, he had to run to the right to win the nomination and then moved to the center to try and win the general. Everyone does this, at least if they want to win. > > Don’t let the flip flopping accusations sway you. He would make a great president. Better than his opponents in the primary and certainly better than Obama, who in addition to being way to the left of the American mainstream has shown he is hopelessly over his head in the role. “Way to the left of American mainstream”? Barack Obama? What kind of yardstick do you use to define the “American Mainstream” ? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-election-so-close/638930.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-election-so-close/638930.md?page=4)