2012 United States presidential election

Re-election of Barack Obama related races 2012 United States elections Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney the Epic Rap Battles of History episode Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney (song) March 2021 March 2021 2012 United States presidential election United States presidential no Nationwide opinion polling for the 2012 United States presidential election 2008 United States presidential election 2008 November 6, 2012 2016 United States presidential election 2016 538 members of the Electoral College 270 electoral 58.6%http://www.electproject.org/national-1789-present National General Election VEP Turnout Rates, 1789-Present United States Election Project CQ Press February 28, 2023 July 25, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140725110444/http://www.electproject.org/national-1789-present live 3.0 pp 200x200px President Barack Obama, 2012 portrait crop.jpg Barack Obama Democratic Party (United States) Illinois Joe Biden 332 26 + DC 65,915,795 65,915,795 129,085,410 1 yes Mitt Romney by Gage Skidmore 6 cropped.jpg Mitt Romney Republican Party (United States) Massachusetts Paul Ryan 206 24 60,933,504 60,933,504 129,085,410 1 yes 350px Presidential election results map. Blue denotes states won by Obama/Biden and red denotes those won by Romney/Ryan. Numbers indicate electoral votes cast by each state and the District of Columbia. President Barack Obama Democratic Party (United States) Barack Obama Democratic Party (United States) Presidential elections were held in the United States on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Democratic president Barack Obama and his running mate, incumbent vice president Joe Biden, were re-elected to a second term;Fahrenthold David A. 2023-05-18 Obama reelected as president https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/after-grueling-campaign-polls-open-for-election-day-2012/2012/11/06/d1c24c98-2802-11e2-b4e0-346287b7e56c_story.html 2024-03-20 Washington Post en-US 0190-8286 April 17, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150417162701/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/after-grueling-campaign-polls-open-for-election-day-2012/2012/11/06/d1c24c98-2802-11e2-b4e0-346287b7e56c_story.html live they defeated the Republican ticket of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan. Obama and Biden were re-nominated by their party without strong opposition in the way. Meanwhile, the Republican Party experienced a competitive primary, with Romney consistently competitive in the polls and winning the support of many party leaders, but facing challenges from a number of more conservative contenders. Romney secured his party's nomination in May, defeating former senator Rick Santorum, former speaker of the House and Georgia congressman Newt Gingrich, and Texas congressman Ron Paul, among other candidates. The campaigns focused heavily on domestic issues, and debate centered largely around sound responses to the Great Recession along with long-term federal budget issues, the future of social insurance programs, and the Affordable Care Act. Foreign policy was also discussed, including the end of the Iraq War in 2011, military spending, the Iranian nuclear program, and appropriate counteractions to terrorism. Romney claimed Obama's domestic policies were ineffective and financially insolvent while Obama's campaign sought to characterize Romney as a plutocratic businessman who was out of touch with the average American.https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0920/Obama-Romney-is-out-of-touch Obama: Romney is out of touch September 20, 2012 The Christian Science Monitor December 11, 2022 December 11, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221211004209/https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0920/Obama-Romney-is-out-of-touch livehttps://www.politico.com/story/2012/05/mitt-hits-obama-on-deficit-076350 Romney hits Obama on deficit May 16, 2012 Politico December 11, 2022 December 11, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221211004209/https://www.politico.com/story/2012/05/mitt-hits-obama-on-deficit-076350 live The campaign was marked by a sharp rise in fundraising, including from nominally independent Super PACs. Obama defeated Romney, winning 332 Electoral College votes and 51.1% of the popular vote to Romney's 206 electoral votes and 47.2% of the popular vote.https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections2012.pdf#page=11 Federal Elections 2012 Federal Election Commission January 20, 2021 2013 Washington, D.C. December 2, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191202185341/https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections2012.pdf#page=11 live He became the third sitting president in a row (after Bill Clinton and George W. Bush) to win a second consecutive term. Obama carried all 18 "blue wall" states and defeated Romney in crucial swing states that Republicans had previously won in 2000 and 2004, namely Colorado, Florida, Nevada, Ohio, and Virginia. Despite his loss, Romney managed to flip Indiana, North Carolina, and Nebraska's 2nd congressional district from the 2008 election. Ultimately, Obama won eight of the nine main swing states, losing only North Carolina.Cillizza Chris 2012-04-16 The 9 swing states of 2012 https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/the-9-swing-states-of-2012/2012/04/16/gIQABuXaLT_blog.html 2021-05-19 Washington Post en-US January 26, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210126073341/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/the-9-swing-states-of-2012/2012/04/16/gIQABuXaLT_blog.html live This is the most recent presidential election in which the incumbent party won. As of 2024, this marked the most recent election where the Democratic nominee won Florida, Iowa, Ohio, and Maine's 2nd congressional district. Background State changes to voter registration and electoral rules In 2011, several state legislatures passed new voting laws, especially pertaining to voter identification, with the stated purpose of combating voter fraud; however, the laws were attacked by the Democratic Party as attempts to suppress voting among its supporters and to improve the Republican Party's presidential prospects. Florida, Georgia, Ohio,http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-callahan/ohios-voter-id-law-and-th_b_840399.html David Callahan: Ohio's Voter ID Law and the 2012 Election Huffington Post Politics blog October 20, 2011 March 25, 2011 October 5, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201005225308/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ohios-voter-id-law-and-th_b_840399/ live Tennessee, and West Virginia's state legislatures approved measures to shorten early voting periods. Florida and Iowa barred all felons from voting. Kansas, South Carolina,http://www2.counton2.com/news/2011/feb/24/sc-voter-id-law-passes-ar-1502939/ New SC voter ID requirements clears Senate WCBD-TV 2 Charleston October 20, 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110909000540/http://www2.counton2.com/news/2011/feb/24/sc-voter-id-law-passes-ar-1502939/ September 9, 2011 Tennessee, Texas,https://www.politico.com/story/2011/02/perrys-agenda-may-signal-wh-run-048957 Rick Perry's agenda may signal run for W.H. – Andy Barr February 7, 2011 Politico.Com October 20, 2011 October 5, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201005225313/https://www.politico.com/story/2011/02/perrys-agenda-may-signal-wh-run-048957/ live and Wisconsinhttp://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2011/aug/18/next-election-surprising-reality/?pagination=false#fnr-4 The Next Election: The Surprising Reality by Andrew Hacker The New York Review of Books October 20, 2011 October 5, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201005225318/https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2011/08/18/next-election-surprising-reality/?pagination=false#fnr-4 live state legislatures passed laws requiring voters to have government-issued IDs before they could cast their ballots. This meant typically that people without driver's licenses or passports had to gain new forms of ID. Former president Bill Clinton denounced them, saying, "There has never been in my lifetime, since we got rid of the poll tax and all the Jim Crow burdens on voting, the determined effort to limit the franchise that we see today".https://www.politico.com/story/2011/07/clinton-likens-gop-effort-to-jim-crow-058419 Bill Clinton likens GOP effort to Jim Crow laws – Darren Samuelsohn July 6, 2011 Politico.Com October 20, 2011 October 5, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201005225335/https://www.politico.com/story/2011/07/clinton-likens-gop-effort-to-jim-crow-058419/ live He was referring to Jim Crow laws passed in southern states near the turn of the twentieth century that disenfranchised most black people from voting and excluded them from the political process for more than six decades. Clinton said the moves would effectively disenfranchise core voter blocs that trend liberal, including college students, black people, and Latinos.https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-rewriting-state-election-laws-in-ways-that-could-hurt-democrat/2011/09/15/gIQApcuhVK_story.html Republicans rewriting state election laws in ways that could how hurt Democrat The Washington Post May 23, 2011 October 20, 2011 Felicia Sonmez October 2, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201002225940/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-rewriting-state-election-laws-in-ways-that-could-hurt-democrat/2011/09/15/gIQApcuhVK_story.html live http://www.suntimes.com/news/jackson/7617828-417/38-states-rigging-voting-rules-for-gop.html 38-states-rigging-voting-rules-for-GOP Chicago Sun-Times Jackson, Jesse October 20, 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20111009165338/http://www.suntimes.com/news/jackson/7617828-417/38-states-rigging-voting-rules-for-gop.html October 9, 2011 The Obama campaign fought against the Ohio law, pushing for a petition and statewide referendum to repeal it in time for the 2012 election.Provance Jim http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2011/08/31/Obama-campaign-fighting-Ohio-law.html Obama campaign fighting Ohio voting law Toledo Blade October 20, 2011 October 5, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201005225345/https://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2011/08/31/Obama-campaign-fighting-Ohio-law.html/ live In addition, the Pennsylvania legislature proposed a plan to change its representation in the electoral college from the traditional winner-take-all model to a district-by-district model.http://theweek.com/article/index/219241/pennsylvanias-democrat-screwing-2012-genius-plan Pennsylvania's 'Democrat-screwing' 2012 'genius plan' The Week New York September 15, 2011 October 20, 2011 October 5, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201005225357/https://theweek.com/articles/481811/pennsylvanias-democratscrewing-2012-genius-plan/ live As the governorship and both houses of its legislature were Republican-controlled, the move was viewed by some as an attempt to reduce Democratic chances.http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11256/1174283-454.stm Change proposed for state's electoral vote process Pittsburgh Post-Gazette September 13, 2011 October 20, 2011 Laura Olson October 5, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201005225403/https://old.post-gazette.com/pg/11256/1174283-454.stm/ dead Rosenbaum Ron http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2011/09/13/pennsylvania_ponders_bold_democrat_screwing_electoral_plan.html Pennsylvania Ponders Bold Democrat-Screwing Electoral Plan Slate September 13, 2011 October 20, 2011 October 5, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201005225409/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2011/09/pennsylvania-ponders-bold-democrat-screwing-electoral-plan.html/ live http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/sep/15/pennsylvania-gop-looks-split-electoral-votes/?page=1 Pennsylvania GOP looks to split electoral votes The Washington Times September 15, 2011 October 20, 2011 May 7, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160507123934/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/sep/15/pennsylvania-gop-looks-split-electoral-votes/?page=1 live Ultimately, they did not do it, leaving their winner take all format intact as of 2020. Nominations Democratic Party 2012 Democratic Party presidential primaries Primaries With an incumbent president running for re-election against token opposition, the race for the Democratic nomination was largely uneventful. The nomination process consisted of primaries and caucuses, held by the 50 states, as well as Guam, Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C., U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Democrats Abroad. Additionally, high-ranking party members known as superdelegates each received one vote in the convention. A few of the primary challengers surpassed the president's vote total in individual counties in several of the seven contested primaries, though none made a significant impact in the delegate count. Running unopposed everywhere else, Obama cemented his status as the Democratic presumptive nominee on April 3, 2012, by securing the minimum number of pledged delegates needed to obtain the nomination.Jackson, David (April 4, 2012)"It's official: Obama clinches Democratic nomination" https://web.archive.org/web/20201005225422/http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/04/this-just-in-obama-clinches-democratic-nomination/1/ October 5, 2020 , USA Today. Retrieved April 10, 2012.(April 4, 2012) "Obama Clinches Democratic Nomination" https://web.archive.org/web/20201005225424/http://whitehouse.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/04/obama-clinches-democratic-nomination/ October 5, 2020 , CNN. Retrieved April 12, 2012. Candidate 2012 Democratic Party presidential candidates Presidential campaigns Vice presidential campaigns 65px|center|link=Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party (United States)2012 Democratic Party ticket white Barack Obama white Joe Bidenfor Presidentfor Vice President center|200x200px center|200x200px 44thPresident of the United States(2009–2017) 47thVice President of the United States(2009–2017)Campaigncenter|250x250px Republican Party 2012 Republican Party presidential primaries Primaries Candidates with considerable name recognition who entered the race for the Republican presidential nomination in the early stages of the primary campaign included U.S. representative and former Libertarian nominee Ron Paul, former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, who co-chaired John McCain's campaign in 2008, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, the runner-up for the nomination in the 2008 cycle, and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. The first debate took place on May 5, 2011, in Greenville, South Carolina, with businessman Herman Cain, former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty, and former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum participating. Another debate took place a month later, with Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, former Utah governor Jon Huntsman, and Minnesota congresswoman Michele Bachmann participating, and Gary Johnson excluded. A total of thirteen debates were held before the Iowa caucuses. The first major event of the campaign was the Ames Straw Poll, which took place in Iowa on August 13, 2011. Michele Bachmann won the straw poll (this ultimately proved to be the acme of her campaign).Goldman Russell https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/01/bachmann-drops-out-of-presidential-race/ Michele Bachmann Drops Out of Presidential Race ABC News July 5, 2012 June 27, 2020 January 21, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210121231922/https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/01/bachmann-drops-out-of-presidential-race live Pawlenty withdrew from the race after a poor showing in the straw poll, as did Thaddeus McCotter, the only candidate among those who qualified for the ballot who was refused entrance into the debate.https://www.politico.com/story/2011/08/barred-2012ers-make-debate-plans-061098 Barred hopefuls make debate plans Summers Juana August 11, 2011 Politico July 5, 2012 May 14, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130514074531/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/61098.html live It became clear at around this point in the nomination process that while Romney was considered to be the likely nominee by the Republican establishment, a large segment of the conservative primary electorate found him to be too moderate for their political views. As a result, a number of potential "anti-Romney" candidates were put forward,http://in.reuters.com/article/us-campaign-romney-idINDEE80804P20120109 https://web.archive.org/web/20160125225906/http://in.reuters.com/article/us-campaign-romney-idINDEE80804P20120109 dead January 25, 2016 Romney's rivals running out of time to stop him Tim Reid January 9, 2012 Reuters July 5, 2012Norington Brad https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/romney-has-money-but-lacks-conviction/news-story/b5a9adb6c9e48d042b29107108ff7cac Romney has money but lacks conviction The Australian July 12, 2012 March 9, 2012 subscription https://web.archive.org/web/20120309034435/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/romney-has-money-but-lacks-conviction/story-e6frg6ux-1226285540352 live including future president Donald Trump,Cohn Alicia M. https://thehill.com/video/campaign/198319-trump-romney-lacks-the-courage-to-participate-in-his-debate/ Trump says Romney lacks the 'courage' to participate in Newsmax debate The Hill December 9, 2011 July 12, 2012 January 11, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210111110852/http://thehill.com/video/campaign/198319-trump-romney-lacks-the-courage-to-participate-in-his-debate live former Alaska governor and 2008 vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin,Stanley Timothy March 30, 2012 http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/29/opinion/stanley-sarah-palin/ If only Sarah Palin had run ... CNN July 12, 2012 August 12, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200812154816/http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/29/opinion/stanley-sarah-palin/ live New Jersey governor Chris Christie,http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/08/30/chris-christie-s-2012-siren-call-why-the-nj-governor-resists-gop-pitch.html Chris Christie's 2012 Tease John Avlon The Daily Beast August 31, 2011 October 3, 2014 May 25, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170525034906/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/08/30/chris-christie-s-2012-siren-call-why-the-nj-governor-resists-gop-pitch.html live and Texas governor Rick Perry,Cohen Tom Silverleib Alan September 1, 2011 http://articles.cnn.com/2011-09-01/politics/republican.nomination_1_romney-and-bachmann-tea-party-sarah-palin?_s=PM:POLITICS Seeking the 'anti-Romney' in the Republican presidential race https://web.archive.org/web/20120712110209/http://articles.cnn.com/2011-09-01/politics/republican.nomination_1_romney-and-bachmann-tea-party-sarah-palin?_s=PM%3APOLITICS July 12, 2012 CNN July 12, 2012 the last of whom decided to run in August 2011. Perry did poorly in the debates, however, and Herman Cain and then Newt Gingrich came to the fore in October and November. Due to a number of scandals, Cain withdrew just before the end of the year, after having ballot placement in several states.http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/herman-cain-suspends-presidential-campaign-1.3355834 https://web.archive.org/web/20111204173911/http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/romney-gingrich-focus-of-gop-race-with-cain-exit-1.3355834 dead December 4, 2011 Herman Cain suspends presidential campaign December 3, 2011 Newsday July 5, 2012 Around the same time, Johnson, who had been able to get into only one other debate, withdrew to seek the Libertarian Party nomination.http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/28/liberated-gary-johnson-seeks-libertarian-nomination/ 'Liberated' Gary Johnson seeks Libertarian nomination CNN December 28, 2011 December 28, 2011 Stewart, Rebecca August 17, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200817125901/https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/28/liberated-gary-johnson-seeks-libertarian-nomination/ dead For the first time in modern Republican Party history, three different candidates won the first three state contests in January (the Iowa caucuses, the New Hampshire primary, and the South Carolina primary).https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/President/2012/0121/Newt-Gingrich-wins-South-Carolina.-Can-he-do-the-same-in-Florida Newt Gingrich wins South Carolina. Can he do the same in Florida? The Christian Science Monitor January 21, 2012 July 10, 2012 Knickerbocker, Brad November 27, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201127031218/https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/President/2012/0121/Newt-Gingrich-wins-South-Carolina.-Can-he-do-the-same-in-Florida live Although Romney had been expected to win in at least Iowa and New Hampshire, Rick Santorum won the non-binding poll at caucus sites in Iowa by 34 votes, as near as could be determined from the incomplete tally, earning him a declaration as winner by state party leaders, although vote totals were missing from eight precincts.Rick Santorum Is Declared Winner of Iowa Caucuses by State Party Leaders" (January 21, 2012). Bloomberg News. https://web.archive.org/web/20121020033130/http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-21/rick-santorum-is-declared-winner-of-iowa-caucuses-by-state-party-leaders October 20, 2012 2012 GOP caucus count unresolved http://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/2012/01/19/register-exclusive-2012-gop-caucus-count-unresolved/ Iowa Caucuses November 29, 2015 January 20, 2012 https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20120120101004/http://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/2012/01/19/register%2Dexclusive%2D2012%2Dgop%2Dcaucus%2Dcount%2Dunresolved/ dead The election of county delegates at the caucuses eventually led to Ron Paul earning 22 of the 28 Iowa delegates to the Republican National Convention.Iowa Republican Caucuses - Election Results https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2012/primaries/states/iowa.html 2024-03-28 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 April 4, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240404075323/https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2012/primaries/states/iowa.html live Newt Gingrich won South Carolina by a surprisingly large margin,http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/01/21/newt-gingrich-s-surprise-win-in-south-carolina-panics-republicans.html Newt Gingrich's Surprise Win in South Carolina Panics Republicans Paul Begala January 21, 2012 August 14, 2012 May 25, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170525040254/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/01/21/newt-gingrich-s-surprise-win-in-south-carolina-panics-republicans.html live and Romney won only in New Hampshire. A number of candidates dropped out at this point in the nomination process. Bachmann withdrew after finishing sixth in the Iowa caucuses,Sarah Wheaton http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/bachmann-says-she-will-not-continue-in-the-race/ Bachmann Says She Will Not Continue in the Race January 4, 2012 The New York Times July 10, 2012 November 18, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201118231249/http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/bachmann-says-she-will-not-continue-in-the-race/ live Huntsman withdrew after coming in third in New Hampshire, and Perry withdrew when polls showed him drawing low numbers in South Carolina.Jeff Zeleny Michael D. Shear The New York Times Perry to End Bid for Presidency January 19, 2012 http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/perry-to-end-bid-for-presidency/ July 10, 2012 November 24, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201124133224/https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/perry-to-end-bid-for-presidency/ live thumb|Mitt Romney on the campaign trail Santorum, who had previously run an essentially one-state campaign in Iowa, was able to organize a national campaign after his surprising victory there. He unexpectedly carried three states in a row on February 7 and overtook Romney in nationwide opinion polls, becoming the only candidate in the race to effectively challenge the notion that Romney was the inevitable nominee.Madison Lucy February 8, 2012 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/santorum-hopes-to-build-momentum-from-3-state-sweep/ Santorum hopes to build momentum from 3-state sweep CBS News August 27, 2012 September 21, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240921110410/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/santorum-hopes-to-build-momentum-from-3-state-sweep/ live However, Romney won all of the other contests between South Carolina and the Super Tuesday primaries, and regained his first-place status in nationwide opinion polls by the end of February. The Super Tuesday primaries took place on March 6. Romney carried six states, Santorum carried three, and Gingrich won only in his home state of Georgia.http://www.cnn.com/election/2012/primaries/dates/20120306 Results: March 6, 2012 – Super Tuesday CNN July 12, 2012 August 12, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200812161118/http://www.cnn.com/election/2012/primaries/dates/20120306 live Throughout the rest of March, 266 delegates were allocated in 12 events, including the territorial contests and the first local conventions that allocated delegates (Wyoming's county conventions). Santorum won Kansas and three Southern primaries, but he was unable to make any substantial gain on Romney, who became a formidable frontrunner after securing more than half of the delegates allocated in March. On April 10, Santorum suspended his campaign due to a variety of reasons, such as a low delegate count, unfavorable polls in his home state of Pennsylvania, and his daughter's health, leaving Mitt Romney as the undisputed front-runner for the presidential nomination and allowing Gingrich to claim that he was "the last conservative standing" in the campaign for the nomination.Gabriel Trip April 10, 2012 http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/10/gingrich-says-hes-in-the-race-to-the-end/ Gingrich Says He's in the Race to the End The New York Times May 9, 2012 November 24, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201124185154/http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/10/gingrich-says-hes-in-the-race-to-the-end/ live After disappointing results in the April 24 primaries (finishing second in one state, third in three, and fourth in one), Gingrich dropped out on May 2 in a move that was seen as an effective end to the contest for the nomination.http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/25/overheard-on-cnn-com-what-brought-down-gingrichs-campaign-whats-next/ Overheard on CNN.com: What brought down Gingrich's campaign? What's next? CNN April 25, 2012 May 9, 2012 November 25, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201125173849/http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/25/overheard-on-cnn-com-what-brought-down-gingrichs-campaign-whats-next/ dead After Gingrich's spokesman announced his upcoming withdrawal, the Republican National Committee declared Romney the party's presumptive nominee.Shear Michael D. April 25, 2012 Republican National Committee Backs Romney http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/25/republican-national-committee-backs-romney/ The New York Times May 2, 2012 November 26, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201126175406/https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/25/republican-national-committee-backs-romney/ live Ron Paul officially remained in the race, but he stopped campaigning on May 14 to focus on state conventions. On May 29, after winning the Texas primary, Romney had received a sufficient number of delegates to clinch the party's nomination with the inclusion of unpledged delegates. After winning the June 5 primaries in California and several other states, Romney had received more than enough pledged delegates to clinch the nomination without counting unpledged delegates, making the June 26 Utah Primary, the last contest of the cycle, purely symbolic. CNN's final delegate estimate, released on July 27, 2012, put Romney at 1,462 pledged delegates and 62 unpledged delegates, for a total estimate of 1,524 delegates. No other candidate had unpledged delegates. The delegate estimates for the other candidates were Santorum at 261 delegates, Paul at 154, Gingrich at 142, Bachmann at 1, Huntsman at 1, and all others at 0.Holland Steve May 30, 2012 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-campaign-romney-idUSBRE84T02720120530 Romney clinches Republican 2012 nomination in Texas Reuters May 30, 2012 July 27, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200727120935/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-campaign-romney-idUSBRE84T02720120530 live On August 28, 2012, delegates at the Republican National Convention officially named Romney the party's presidential nominee.https://www.cbsnews.com/news/republican-delegates-nominate-mitt-romney/ Republican delegates nominate Mitt Romney CBS News August 28, 2012 August 28, 2012 Caldwell, Leigh Ann September 21, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240921110410/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/republican-delegates-nominate-mitt-romney/ live Romney formally accepted the delegates' nomination on August 30, 2012.O'Brien Michael August 30, 2012 http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/30/13578981-romney-accepts-nomination-says-the-time-has-come-to-turn-the-page?lite Romney accepts nomination, says 'The time has come to turn the page' NBC News August 31, 2012 August 6, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200806223420/http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/30/13578981-romney-accepts-nomination-says-the-time-has-come-to-turn-the-page?lite live Candidate 2012 Republican Party presidential candidates 2012 Republican Party vice presidential candidate selection 65px|center|link=Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party (United States)2012 Republican Party ticket white Mitt Romney white Paul Ryanfor Presidentfor Vice President center|200x200px center|200x200px 70thGovernor of Massachusetts(2003–2007) U.S. Representativefrom Wisconsin(1999–2019)Campaigncenter|200x200px "Mitt Romney announces bid to be US president in 2012" https://web.archive.org/web/20210131151305/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13632467 January 31, 2021 , BBC. June 2, 2011Romney opens presidential bid — he's got company Philip Elliott http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700141023/Romney-opens-presidential-bid-2-hes-got-company.html Deseret News June 2, 2011 October 5, 2012 December 4, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121204103138/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700141023/Romney-opens-presidential-bid-2-hes-got-company.html dead Withdrawn candidates Candidates in this section are sorted by popular vote from the primariesRick SantorumNewt GingrichRon PaulJon Huntsman Jr.Rick PerryMichele Bachmannalt=|center|120x120pxalt=|center|120x120pxalt=|center|120x120pxalt=|center|111x111pxalt=|center|120x120pxalt=|center|120x120pxU.S. Senator from Pennsylvania  (1995–2007)50thSpeakerof the United StatesHouse of Representatives(1995–1999)U.S. Representativefrom Texas(1997–2013)U.S. Ambassadorto China(2009–2011)47thGovernor ofTexas(2000–2015)U.S. Representativefrom Minnesota(2007–2013)alt=|center|100x100pxalt=|center|100x100pxalt=|center|100x100pxalt=|center|100x100pxalt=|center|100x100pxCampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignW: April 103,816,110 votesW: May 22,737,442 votesW: N/A2,017,957 votesW: Jan 1683,173 votesW: Jan 1942,251 votesW: Jan 435,089 votesGeorge Stephanopoulos June 6, 2011 Rick Santorum Will Run for President: 'We're In It to Win' ABC News http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2011/06/exclusive-rick-santorum-we-are-in-it-to-win.html June 6, 2011 July 16, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110716171258/http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2011/06/exclusive-rick-santorum-we-are-in-it-to-win.html liveSalant Jonathan D. June 6, 2011 Ex-Pennsylvania Senator Santorum Announces '12 Republican Presidential Bid Bloomberg News https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-06/ex-senator-santorum-announces-bid-for-republican-presidential-nomination.html June 6, 2011 June 9, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110609190929/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-06/ex-senator-santorum-announces-bid-for-republican-presidential-nomination.html liveJune 6, 2011 Republican Rick Santorum announces presidential run The Patriot News Associated Press http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/06/rick_santorum_announces_presid.html June 6, 2011 May 25, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170525035249/http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/06/rick_santorum_announces_presid.html liveNewt Gingrich running for president Politico May 11, 2011 https://www.politico.com/story/2011/05/newt-gingrich-makes-it-official-054780 Kendra Marr May 11, 2011 May 13, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110513062124/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/54780.html live mdy-allGingrich to leave campaign, but not the national spotlight MSNBC April 25, 2012 http://nbcpolitics.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/25/11390550-gingrich-to-leave-campaign-but-not-the-national-spotlight?lite Michael O'Brien April 25, 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120425210650/http://nbcpolitics.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/25/11390550-gingrich-to-leave-campaign-but-not-the-national-spotlight?lite April 25, 2012 mdy-allGood Chris May 14, 2012 Ron Paul to Stop Campaigning in New States ABC News https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/05/ron-paul-to-stop-campaigning-in-new-states/ October 8, 2012 October 8, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121008184142/http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/05/ron-paul-to-stop-campaigning-in-new-states/ live"Huntsman's sly web strategy" https://web.archive.org/web/20240713183337/https://thehill.com/blogs/twitter-room/other-news/90887-huntsmans-sly-web-strategy/ July 13, 2024 , The Hill. May 11, 2011."Jon Huntsman: My Mormonism is 'tough to define'", Politico. May 12, 2011.Hamby Peter January 19, 2012 Perry drops out, endorses Gingrich CNN http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/19/breaking-perry-endorses-gingrich/ January 25, 2012 January 24, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120124012418/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/19/breaking-perry-endorses-gingrich/ deadReston Maeve August 13, 2011 Texas Gov. Rick Perry declares GOP presidential bid Los Angeles Times http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-perry-president-20110813,0,6052473.story August 18, 2011 August 17, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110817222102/http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-perry-president-20110813,0,6052473.story liveRucker Philip January 4, 2012 Michele Bachmann drops out of GOP race after Iowa caucuses The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/michele-bachmann-drops-out-of-gop-race-after-iowa-caucuses/2012/01/04/gIQAP6L9aP_story.html January 5, 2012 January 12, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120112134823/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/michele-bachmann-drops-out-of-gop-race-after-iowa-caucuses/2012/01/04/gIQAP6L9aP_story.html liveRosenwald Michael S. June 14, 2011 Michele Bachmann files paperwork to run for president The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/michele-bachmann-files-paperwork-to-run-for-president/2011/06/13/AGPaXlTH_story.html September 17, 2017 January 31, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210131035255/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/michele-bachmann-files-paperwork-to-run-for-president/2011/06/13/AGPaXlTH_story.html liveBurns Alexander June 13, 2011 Michele Bachmann is in Politico https://www.politico.com/story/2011/06/bachmann-is-in-056881 December 3, 2011 March 3, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150303161600/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/56881.html liveBuddy RoemerHerman CainFred KargerGary JohnsonThaddeus McCotterTim Pawlentyalt=|center|120x120pxalt=|center|120x120pxalt=|center|120x120pxalt=|center|120x120pxalt=|center|120x120pxalt=|center|120x120px52ndGovernor ofLouisiana(1988–1992)Chair of theFederal ReserveBank of Kansas City(1995–1996)PoliticalConsultant29thGovernor ofNew Mexico(1995–2003)U.S. Representativefrom Michigan(2003–2012)39thGovernor ofMinnesota(2003–2011)alt=|center|92x92pxalt=|center|100x100pxalt=|center|100x100pxalt=|center|100x100pxalt=|center|100x100pxalt=|center|100x100pxCampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignW: Feb 2233,212 votesW: Dec 3, 201113,538 votesW: June 29, 201212,776 votesW: Dec 28, 20114,286 votesW: Sep 22, 20110 votesW: Aug 14, 20110 votesJuly 21, 2011 Roemer kicks off 2012 presidential bid KRQE http://www.krqe.com/dpps/elections/president/roemer-kicks-off-2012-presidential-bid-nt11-jpe_3888834 dead October 5, 2012 https://archive.today/20121206004014/http://www.krqe.com/dpps/elections/president/roemer-kicks-off-2012-presidential-bid-nt11-jpe_3888834 December 6, 2012McKinnon, Mark July 21, 2011 Listen to Candidate Roemer The Daily Beast http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/07/21/buddy-roemer-announcing-2012-gop-bid-for-president-deserves-attention.html July 21, 2011 May 25, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170525041233/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/07/21/buddy-roemer-announcing-2012-gop-bid-for-president-deserves-attention.html liveGreen, Joshua (May 21, 2011) "Herman Cain Makes It Official" https://web.archive.org/web/20120113124904/http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/05/herman-cain-makes-it-official/239255/ January 13, 2012 , The Atlantic. Retrieved May 21, 2011.Creed, Ryan (May 21, 2011) "Herman Cain, Former CEO of Godfather's Pizza, Announces His Candidacy" https://web.archive.org/web/20120111195426/http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/herman-cain-ceo-godfathers-pizza-announces-candidacy/story?id=13655234 January 11, 2012 , ABC News. Retrieved May 22, 2011.January 2026Camia Catalina April 21, 2011 Ex-N.M. governor Gary Johnson announces for president USA Today http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/04/gary-johnson-president-new-mexico-governor-/1 April 21, 2011 April 29, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110429014349/http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/04/gary-johnson-president-new-mexico-governor-/1 liveApril 21, 2011 Gary Johnson throws his hat into the GOP presidential ring, will he be the 2012 Ron Paul? Los Angeles Times http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/04/gary-johnson-throws-his-hat-into-the-gop-presidential-ring-will-he-be-the-2012-ron-paul.html April 22, 2011 November 11, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201111213142/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/04/gary-johnson-throws-his-hat-into-the-gop-presidential-ring-will-he-be-the-2012-ron-paul.html liveMadison, Lucy July 1, 2011 Michigan Rep. Thaddeus McCotter to jump into Republican presidential race CBS News https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michigan-rep-thaddeus-mccotter-to-jump-into-republican-presidential-race/ June 27, 2012 July 4, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110704030834/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20076049-503544.html liveSummers, Juana July 20, 2011 Candidates face off on Twitter https://www.politico.com/story/2011/07/candidates-face-off-on-twitter-059516 June 27, 2012 Politico May 14, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130514083345/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/59516.html liveBakst Brian August 14, 2011 Ex-Minn. Gov. Tim Pawlenty ends White House bid The Huffington Post Associated Press http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20110814/us-pawlenty-2012/ August 14, 2011 February 16, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120216010840/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20110814/us-pawlenty-2012/ liveReinhard Beth August 13, 2011 Bachmann Boom; TPaw Bust? National Journal http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/08/ames-a-strongly.php dead August 14, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111025124108/http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/08/ames-a-strongly.php October 25, 2011 Third party and other nominations Third-party and independent candidates for the 2012 United States presidential election Four other parties nominated candidates that had ballot access or write-in access to at least 270 electoral votes, the minimum number of votes needed in the 2012 election to win the presidency through a majority of the electoral college. Libertarian Party Libertarian Party (United States) 2012 Libertarian National Convention Gary Johnson 2012 presidential campaign Gary Johnson, former governor of New Mexico.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-libertarians-idUSBRE8440BZ20120506 Libertarians nominate ex-Governor Gary Johnson for president Reuters Pratt Timothy May 5, 2012 May 6, 2012 July 27, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200727091747/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-libertarians-idUSBRE8440BZ20120506 live Vice-presidential nominee: Jim Gray, retired state court judge, from California.http://reason.com/blog/2012/05/05/judge-jim-gray-is-the-2012-libertarian-p Judge Jim Gray Is the 2012 Libertarian Party Vice Presidential Nominee Reason May 5, 2012 May 6, 2012 Riggs Mike May 7, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120507060859/http://reason.com/blog/2012/05/05/judge-jim-gray-is-the-2012-libertarian-p live Green Party Green Party of the United States 2012 Green National Convention Jill Stein 2012 presidential campaign Jill Stein, medical doctor from Massachusetts.https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-07-14/green-party-jill-stein/56226288/1 Mass. doctor Jill Stein wins Green Party's presidential nod Associated Press USA Today July 14, 2012 July 15, 2012 July 15, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120715012830/http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-07-14/green-party-jill-stein/56226288/1 deadhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/2012/07/14/green-party-nominates-jill-stein-for-president-at-baltimore-convention/ Green Party nominates Jill Stein for president at Baltimore convention The Baltimore Sun July 14, 2012 July 15, 2012 Kilar Steve June 7, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130607042553/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-green-convention-close-20120714,0,2011815.story live Vice-presidential nominee: Cheri Honkala, social organizer, from Pennsylvania.Steinmetz Katy July 11, 2012 https://swampland.time.com/2012/07/11/the-green-team-jill-steins-third-party-bid-to-shake-up-2012/ The Green Team: Jill Stein's Third-Party Bid to Shake Up 2012 Time July 11, 2012 July 11, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120711205018/http://swampland.time.com/2012/07/11/the-green-team-jill-steins-third-party-bid-to-shake-up-2012/ live Constitution Party Constitution Party (United States) 2012 Constitution Party National Convention Virgil Goode 2012 presidential campaign Virgil Goode, former representative from Virginia.http://www.roanoke.com/news/breaking/wb/307795 https://web.archive.org/web/20120424045119/http://www.roanoke.com/news/breaking/wb/307795 dead April 24, 2012 Goode gets Constitution Party's nomination for president The Roanoke Times April 21, 2012 April 22, 2012 Arielle Retting Vice-presidential nominee: Jim Clymer from Pennsylvania.http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2012/04/constitution-party-convention-wrap-up-vice-presidential-candidate-and-officer-elections/ Constitution Party Convention Wrap-Up: vice Presidential Candidate and Officer Elections Independent Political Report Hill Trent April 21, 2012 April 22, 2012 April 23, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120423132522/http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2012/04/constitution-party-convention-wrap-up-vice-presidential-candidate-and-officer-elections/ live Justice Party Justice Party (United States) Rocky Anderson Rocky Anderson, former mayor of Salt Lake City and founding member of the Justice Party, from Utah. Vice-presidential nominee: Luis J. Rodriguez from California.http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/54506925-90/rodriguez-activist-anderson-author.html.csp Rocky picks activist-author as his VP running mate Gehrke Robert July 17, 2012 The Salt Lake Tribune July 18, 2012 July 21, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120721031744/http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/54506925-90/rodriguez-activist-anderson-author.html.csp livehttp://www.deseretnews.com/article/705397350/Rocky-Anderson-accepts-his-newly-formed-partys-presidential-nomination.html Rocky Anderson accepts his newly-formed party's presidential nomination Deseret News January 13, 2012 February 1, 2012 Schwarz, Hunter February 1, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120201005240/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705397350/Rocky-Anderson-accepts-his-newly-formed-partys-presidential-nomination.html dead Candidates gallery Campaigns Barack Obama 2012 presidential campaign Mitt Romney 2012 presidential campaign Gary Johnson 2012 presidential campaign Jill Stein 2012 presidential campaign Virgil Goode 2012 presidential campaign Ballot access Presidential ticketPartyBallot accesshttp://www.ballot-access.org/?p=30419 2012 Ballot Status for President Ballot-access.org October 27, 2012 July 7, 2013 January 25, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160125225906/http://ballot-access.org/?p=30419 liveVotesPercentageStatesElectors% of votersObama / BidenDemocratic50 + DC538100%65,915,79551.1%Romney / RyanRepublican50 + DC538100%60,933,50447.2%Johnson / Gray Libertarian48 + DC51595.1%1,275,9711.0%Stein / HonkalaGreen36 + DC43683.1%469,6270.4%Goode / ClymerConstitution2625749.9%122,3880.1%Anderson / RodriguezJustice1514528.1%43,018nilLindsay / OsorioSocialism & Liberation1311528.6%7,791nil Candidates in bold were on ballots representing 270 electoral votes. All other candidates were on the ballots of fewer than 10 states, 100 electors, and less than 20% of voters nationwide. Financing and advertising The United States presidential election of 2012 broke new records in financing, fundraising, and negative campaigning. Through grassroots campaign contributions, online donations, and Super PACs, Obama and Romney raised a combined total of more than $2 billion.Braun Stephen $2 Billion Price Tag for Presidential Election http://bigstory.ap.org/article/casino-owner-aided-romney-late-10-million-bet December 9, 2012 Associated Press December 6, 2012 December 8, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121208013846/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/casino-owner-aided-romney-late-10-million-bet dead Super PACs constituted nearly one-fourth of the total financing, with most coming from pro-Romney PACs.Confessore Nicholas Little to Show for Cash Flood by Big Donors https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/08/us/politics/little-to-show-for-cash-flood-by-big-donors.html?_r=0&pagewanted=all December 9, 2012 The New York Times December 7, 2012 November 11, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121111100616/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/08/us/politics/little-to-show-for-cash-flood-by-big-donors.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 live Obama raised $690 million through online channels, beating his record of $500 million in 2008.Scherer Michael Exclusive: Obama's 2012 Digital Fundraising Outperformed 2008 https://swampland.time.com/2012/11/15/exclusive-obamas-2012-digital-fundraising-outperformed-2008/ December 9, 2012 Time November 27, 2012 November 18, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121118062904/http://swampland.time.com/2012/11/15/exclusive-obamas-2012-digital-fundraising-outperformed-2008/ live Most of the advertising in the 2012 presidential campaign was decidedly negative—80% of Obama's ads and 84% of Romney's ads were negative.Hunt Albert Barrage of Negative Ads May Haunt President-Elect https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-14/barrage-of-negative-ads-may-haunt-president-elect.html December 9, 2012 Bloomberg News October 14, 2012 The hundreds of thousands of television commercials broadcast by the presidential candidates are lopsidedly negative; this is the case with 80 percent of those put out by President Barack Obama and 84 percent of those for Mitt Romney. October 18, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121018000134/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-14/barrage-of-negative-ads-may-haunt-president-elect.html live The tax-exempt non-profit Americans for Prosperity, a so-called "outside group", that is, a political advocacy group that is not a political action committee or super-PAC, ran a television advertising campaign opposing Obama described by The Washington Post as "early and relentless".The players in the Koch-backed $400 million political donor network Matea Gold January 5, 2014 May 9, 2015 The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-players-in-the-koch-backed-400-million-political-donor-network/2014/01/05/714451a8-74b5-11e3-8b3f-b1666705ca3b_story.html Americans for Prosperity, the Virginia-based nonprofit that finances grass-roots activities across the country and ran an early and relentless television ad assault against President Obama during the 2012 campaign. May 9, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150509075354/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-players-in-the-koch-backed-400-million-political-donor-network/2014/01/05/714451a8-74b5-11e3-8b3f-b1666705ca3b_story.html live Record Political Ad Spending Powered by Special Interests Julia Boorstin November 8, 2011 https://www.cnbc.com/2011/11/08/record-political-ad-spending-powered-by-special-interests.html April 30, 2015 CNBC May 18, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150518112553/http://www.cnbc.com/id/45212597 live Americans for Prosperity spent $8.4 million in swing states on television advertisements denouncing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 loan guarantee to Solyndra, a manufacturer of solar panels that went bankrupt,https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-10-17/solyndra-lenders-ahead-of-government-won-t-recover-fully Solyndra Lenders Ahead of Government Won't Recover Fully Michael Bathon October 17, 2012 Bloomberg Business November 14, 2014 May 1, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150501134346/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-10-17/solyndra-lenders-ahead-of-government-won-t-recover-fully live an advertising campaign described by The Wall Street Journal in November 2011 as "perhaps the biggest attack on Mr. Obama so far".http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/11/28/377053/koch-americans-for-prosperity-solyndra-attack-ad-video/ Koch-Fueled Americans for Prosperity Spends $2.4 Million on Solyndra Attack Ad Stephen Lacey ThinkProgress Center for American Progress November 28, 2011 May 10, 2015 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150505235012/http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/11/28/377053/koch-americans-for-prosperity-solyndra-attack-ad-video/ May 5, 2015 mdy-all https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/01/14/americans-for-prosperity-to-air-ads-slamming-obamas-ties-to-solyndra/ Americans for Prosperity to Air Ads Slamming Obama's Ties to Solyndra Brody Mullins Washington Wire blog January 14, 2012 April 19, 2015 The Wall Street Journal November 16, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201116162736/https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/01/14/americans-for-prosperity-to-air-ads-slamming-obamas-ties-to-solyndra/ live Party conventions USA left 400 Sites of the 2012 national party conventions Map of United States showing Charlotte, Tampa, Las Vegas, Baltimore, and Nashville blue pog.svg 12 35.2269 -80.843333 Charlotte right red pog.svg 12 27.9709 -82.46464 Tampa left purple pog.svg 8 36.165 -86.784 Nashville left gold pog.svg 8 36.176 -115.137 Las Vegas right green pog.svg 8 39.283333 -76.616667 Baltimore left April 18–21, 2012: 2012 Constitution Party National Convention held in Nashville, Tennessee;Winger, Richard (November 18, 2010) "2012 Constitution Party National Convention Set for Nashville" https://web.archive.org/web/20201106203641/http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/11/18/2012-constitution-party-national-convention-set-for-nashville/ November 6, 2020 , Ballot Access News. Retrieved November 29, 2010. Virgil Goode won the nomination. May 3–6, 2012: 2012 Libertarian National Convention held in Las Vegas, Nevada;Myers, Laura (November 30, 2010) "Las Vegas will host Libertarian convention" https://web.archive.org/web/20110714011112/http://www.lvrj.com/news/las-vegas-will-host-libertarian-convention-111027874.html July 14, 2011 Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved November 30, 2010. Gary Johnson won the nomination.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/05/gary-johnson-2012-libertarian-nomination_n_1485044.html Cristina Silva Gary Johnson Wins 2012 Libertarian Nomination Associated Press The Huffington Post May 5, 2012 June 17, 2012 June 20, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120620230212/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/05/gary-johnson-2012-libertarian-nomination_n_1485044.html live July 13–15, 2012: 2012 Green National Convention held in Baltimore, Maryland;http://www.ballot-access.org/2011/11/11/green-party-national-convention-will-be-in-baltimore/ Green Party National Convention will be in Baltimore Ballot Access News November 11, 2011 November 12, 2011 November 6, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201106180347/http://ballot-access.org/2011/11/11/green-party-national-convention-will-be-in-baltimore/ live Jill Stein won the nomination. August 27–30, 2012: 2012 Republican National Convention held in Tampa, Florida;Barr, Andy; Mike Allen (May 12, 2010) "Republicans pick Tampa for 2012 convention", Politico. Retrieved May 13, 2010. Mitt Romney won the nomination. September 3–6, 2012: 2012 Democratic National Convention held in Charlotte, North Carolina;2012 Democratic National Convention To Be Held In Charlotte, N.C. Michael Falcone https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/02/democratic-national-convention-2012-to-be-held-in-charlotte-nc/ ABC News February 1, 2011 October 5, 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120901140433/https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/02/democratic-national-convention-2012-to-be-held-in-charlotte-nc/ September 1, 2012 Barack Obama won the nomination. Presidential debates 2012 United States presidential debates The Commission on Presidential Debates held four debates during the last weeks of the campaign: three presidential and one vice-presidential. The major issues debated were the economy and jobs, the federal budget deficit, taxation and spending, the future of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, healthcare reform, education, social issues, immigration, and foreign policy. Debate schedule:http://decoded.nationaljournal.com/2011/10/fall-2012-presidential-debates.php Fall 2012 Presidential Debates Set Kiely Kathy October 31, 2011 National Journal October 31, 2011 November 1, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111101235203/http://decoded.nationaljournal.com/2011/10/fall-2012-presidential-debates.php liveBlake, Aaron (August 13, 2012) "Presidential debate moderators announced: Crowley is first woman in 20 years" https://web.archive.org/web/20200828215915/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/presidential-debate-moderators-announced-crowley-is-first-woman-in-20-years/2012/08/13/0e327af6-e553-11e1-8f62-58260e3940a0_blog.html August 28, 2020 , The Washington Post. Retrieved August 15, 2012. +Debates among candidates for the 2012 U.S. presidential electionNo.DateHostCityModeratorParticipantsViewership(million)P1Wednesday, October 3, 2012University of DenverDenver, ColoradoJim LehrerBarack Obama Mitt Romney67.2https://www.debates.org/index.php?page=2012-debates CPD: 2012 Debates www.debates.org 2019-01-08 January 8, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190108145542/https://www.debates.org/index.php?page=2012-debates liveVPThursday, October 11, 2012Centre CollegeDanville, KentuckyMartha RaddatzJoe Biden Paul Ryan51.4P2Tuesday, October 16, 2012Hofstra UniversityHempstead, New YorkCandy CrowleyBarack Obama Mitt Romney65.6P3Monday, October 22, 2012Lynn UniversityBoca Raton, FloridaBob SchiefferBarack Obama Mitt Romney59.2 thumb|President Obama talks with Ron Klain during presidential debate preparations. Senator John Kerry, at podium, played the role of Mitt Romney during the preparatory sessions. An independent presidential debate featuring minor party candidates took place on Tuesday, October 23 at the Hilton Hotel in Chicago, Illinois."Third-party candidates finally get their own presidential debate" https://web.archive.org/web/20200820103122/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2012/10/24/third-party-candidates-finally-get-their-own-presidential-debate/ August 20, 2020 , The Washington Post. October 24, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2013.http://seattletimes.com/html/politics/2019505794_thirdparties.html Third-party candidates debate: United against Obama, Romney The Seattle Times October 23, 2012 October 24, 2012 Sullivan, Sean March 3, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130303045811/http://seattletimes.com/html/politics/2019505794_thirdparties.html live The debate was moderated by Larry Kinghttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/larry-king-to-moderate-third-party-debate/ Larry King to moderate third-party debate Associated Press CBS News October 18, 2012 October 17, 2012 February 8, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150208045603/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/larry-king-to-moderate-third-party-debate/ live and organized by the Free & Equal Elections Foundation. The participants were Gary Johnson (Libertarian), Jill Stein (Green), Virgil Goode (Constitution), and Rocky Anderson (Justice). A second debate between Stein and Johnson took place on Sunday, November 4, and was moderated by Ralph Nader.Lowrey Annie 2012-11-05 Another Presidential Debate, but This Time the Candidates Are Much Less Familiar (Published 2012) en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/05/us/politics/in-this-presidential-debate-four-third-party-hopefuls.html 2021-02-08 0362-4331 February 8, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210208210836/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/05/us/politics/in-this-presidential-debate-four-third-party-hopefuls.html live Notable expressions, phrases, and statements Severely conservative – In a speech he made at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February 2012, Romney claimed that he had been a "severely conservative Republican governor". Romney's description of his record as "severely conservative" was widely criticized by political commentators as both rhetorically clumsy and factually inaccurate. David A. Fahrenthold Mitt Romney reframes himself as a 'severely conservative' governor https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romney-reframes-himself-as-a-severely-conservative-governor/2012/02/14/gIQAaMiqHR_story.html The Washington Post February 16, 2012 September 17, 2017 February 9, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210209082847/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romney-reframes-himself-as-a-severely-conservative-governor/2012/02/14/gIQAaMiqHR_story.html live Mitt Romney's 'Severe Conservatism'. The Weekly Standard (September 18, 2012). Retrieved August 12, 2013.http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/13/opinion/frum-romney-moves/index.html "Mitt Romney's 'severely' bad moves" CNN February 13, 2012 Frum David January 24, 2013 December 15, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201215223622/http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/13/opinion/frum-romney-moves/index.html live Later, the phrase "severely conservative" was frequently brought up by Democrats to make fun of Romney's willingness to associate himself with the far-right of the Republican Party as well as his apparent lack of sincerity while doing so.Paul Krugman Severe Conservative Syndrome https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/13/opinion/krugman-severe-conservative-syndrome.html The New York Times February 13, 2012 February 28, 2017 November 12, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201112025525/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/13/opinion/krugman-severe-conservative-syndrome.html live Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, who played the clip on his radio show, said: "I have never heard anybody say, 'I'm severely conservative.' "Rush On Romney @ CPAC: I Have Never Heard Anybody Say 'I'm Severely Conservative' http://dailyrushbo.com/rush-on-romney-cpac-i-have-never-heard-anybody-say-im-severely-conservative Daily Rushbo February 10, 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150402072945/http://dailyrushbo.com/rush-on-romney-cpac-i-have-never-heard-anybody-say-im-severely-conservative/ April 2, 2015 mdy-all You didn't build that – A portion of a statement that Obama made in a July 2012 campaign speech in Roanoke, Virginia. Obama said that businesses depend on government-provided infrastructure to succeed, but critics of his remarks argued that he was underplaying the work of entrepreneurs and giving the government credit for individuals' success. The Romney campaign immediately used the statement in an effort to contrast Romney's economic policies with Obama's and to appeal to small business owners/employees. A major theme of the 2012 Republican National Convention was "We Built It". 47 percent – An expression Romney used at a private campaign fundraising event, which was secretly recorded and publicly released. At the private event, Romney said that 47 percent of the people would vote for Barack Obama no matter what Romney said or did because those people "...are dependent upon government... I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives." The 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back – A portion of a statement that Obama made in an October 2012 debate. In the debate, Obama was deriding an earlier Romney statement in the campaign that Russia is "without question, our No. 1 geopolitical foe." Jillian Rayfield Obama: The '80s called, they want their foreign policy back https://www.salon.com/2012/10/23/obama_the_80s_called_they_want_their_foreign_policy_back/ Salon October 23, 2012 April 24, 2022 April 24, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220424182412/https://www.salon.com/2012/10/23/obama_the_80s_called_they_want_their_foreign_policy_back/ live Binders full of women – A phrase that Romney used in the second presidential debate to refer to the long list of female candidates that he considered when choosing his cabinet members as Governor of Massachusetts. Horses and bayonets – After Romney said in the third presidential debate that the U.S. Navy was smaller than at any time since 1917, Obama replied, "We have fewer ships than we did in 1916. Well, governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets, because the nature of our military's changed."Rogers Katie Horses and bayonets catch on during final US presidential debate https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-news-blog/2012/oct/23/horses-and-bayonets-presidential-debate The Guardian October 23, 2012 August 17, 2017 November 6, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201106164850/https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-news-blog/2012/oct/23/horses-and-bayonets-presidential-debate live Shovel-ready jobs – a phrase used to describe some stimulus projects promoted by the administration. During the debate on September 23, 2011, Gary Johnson quipped, "My next-door neighbor's two dogs have created more shovel-ready jobs than this president."https://www.politico.com/story/2011/09/gary-johnsons-moment-064232#ixzz3xptLeUGs Gary Johnson's moment Politico Burns Alexander September 22, 2011 January 21, 2016 December 14, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201214105138/https://www.politico.com/story/2011/09/gary-johnsons-moment-064232#ixzz3xptLeUGs live Romnesia – A term coined by a blogger in April 2011 and used by Obama late in the campaign to describe Romney's alleged inability to take responsibility for his past statements.http://blog.hcfama.org/2011/04/04/romnesia/ Romnesia hcfama.org dead https://web.archive.org/web/20111201074626/http://blog.hcfama.org/2011/04/04/romnesia/ December 1, 2011 Kantrowitz, Alex https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkantrowitz/2012/10/21/romnesia-a-made-for-social-media-attack-line/ #Romnesia: A Made for Social Media Attack Line Forbes October 21, 2012 October 22, 2012 October 23, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121023074001/http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkantrowitz/2012/10/21/romnesia-a-made-for-social-media-attack-line/ live $10,000 bet – During a Republican debate, Romney facetiously bet Texas governor Rick Perry $10,000 that he (Perry) was wrong about Romney's position on the individual mandate under the Affordable Healthcare Act. The statement was vilified by Democrats as exemplary of Romney being out of touch with working-class and middle-class Americans. Romneyshambles – a word used by the British press after Romney criticized British preparations for the 2012 Summer Olympics. The word is a play on omnishambles, and it became a popular hashtag on Twitter. It was subsequently chosen as one of Collins English Dictionary's words of the year.http://www.newyorker.com/news/lauren-collins/romneyshambles-part-ii Romneyshambles, Part II The New Yorker September 18, 2012 Collins Lauren July 1, 2015 September 25, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200925202840/https://www.newyorker.com/news/lauren-collins/romneyshambles-part-ii livehttp://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/gangnam-style-romneyshambles-uk-dictionary-words-year-article-1.1224325 'Gangnam Style,' 'fiscal cliff,' 'Romneyshambles' chosen as Collins Dictionary's words of the year Daily News December 20, 2012 July 1, 2015 November 14, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201114220751/https://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/gangnam-style-romneyshambles-uk-dictionary-words-year-article-1.1224325 live Malarkey – a word used by Joe Biden in his debate with Paul Ryan to mean bullshit. Biden later used the word in his own campaign in 2020.No malarkey? Biden's old-school slogan gets mocked and praised in Iowa https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/02/democrat-voters-biden-malarkey-campaign-slogan-074727 December 2, 2019 Politico Natasha Korecki October 19, 2022 February 2, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200202131553/https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/02/democrat-voters-biden-malarkey-campaign-slogan-074727 live Electoral College forecasts Elections analysts and political pundits issue probabilistic forecasts of the composition of the Electoral College. These forecasts use a variety of factors to estimate the likelihood of each candidate winning the Electoral College electors for that state. Most election predictors use the following ratings: "tossup": no advantage "tilt" (used by some predictors): advantage that is not quite as strong as "lean" "lean" or "leans": slight advantage "likely": significant, but surmountable, advantage "safe" or "solid": near-certain chance of victory Below is a list of states considered by one or more forecast to be competitive; states that are deemed to be "safe" or "solid" by forecasters RealClearPolitics, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and FiveThirtyEight. State EVs Electoral votes RealClearPoliticsNovember 6,2012 http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/2012_elections_electoral_college_map.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110608112207/http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/2012_elections_electoral_college_map.html 2011-06-08 RealClearPolitics - 2012 Election Maps - Battle for White HouseSabato's Crystal BallNovember 6,2012 https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/projection-obama-will-likely-win-second-term/ PROJECTION: OBAMA WILL LIKELY WIN SECOND TERM November 5, 2012538November 6,2012 https://www.masslive.com/news/2012/11/nate_silvers_political_calcula.html Nate Silver's political calculations predict 2012 election outcome November 7, 2012 Arizona11 | Lean R | Solid R | Safe R Colorado9 | Tossup | Lean D | Likely D Florida29 | Tossup | Lean R flip | Lean D Iowa6 | Tossup | Lean D | Likely D Indiana11 | Lean R flip | Solid R flip | Likely R flip Maine1 | Lean D | Likely D | Safe D Michigan16 | Tossup | Likely D | Safe D Minnesota10 | Lean D | Likely D | Safe D Missouri11 | Lean R | Solid R | Safe R Nevada6 | Tossup | Likely D | Safe D New Hampshire4 | Tossup | Lean D | Likely D New Mexico5 | Lean D | Likely D | Safe D North Carolina15 | Tossup | Likely R flip | Lean R flip Ohio18 | Tossup | Lean D | Safe D Oregon7 | Lean D | Likely D | Safe D Pennsylvania20 | Tossup | Lean D | Safe D Washington12 | Lean D | Solid D | Safe D Virginia13 | Tossup | Lean R flip | Likely D Wisconsin10 | Tossup | Lean D | Safe D Timeline Timeline of the 2012 United States presidential election Results Electoral results On the day of the election, spread betting firm Spreadex offered an Obama Electoral College Votes spread of 296–300 to Romney's 239–243.November 7, 2012 US Election Betting Financial Spread Betting Spreadex https://www.spreadex.com/financials/press-releases/2012-us-election-spread-betting-results/ August 11, 2020 www.spreadex.com February 17, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210217195649/https://www.spreadex.com/financials/press-releases/2012-us-election-spread-betting-results/ live In fact Obama's victory over Romney was greater, winning 332 electoral votes to Romney's 206. Obama received 51 percent of the national popular vote to Romney's 47 percenthttp://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/11/06/obama-defeats-romney-to-win-second-term-fox-news-projects/ Obama defeats Romney to win second term, vows he has 'more work to do' Fox News November 7, 2012 December 8, 2019 November 5, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151105145347/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/11/06/obama-defeats-romney-to-win-second-term-fox-news-projects/ deadhttp://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obama-biden-officially-win-second-term-20130104,0,5932518.story It's official: Obama, Biden win second term Memoli, Michael A. Los Angeles Times January 4, 2013 December 8, 2019 February 28, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130228200916/http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obama-biden-officially-win-second-term-20130104,0,5932518.story live and carried eight of the nine states considered to be electoral battlegrounds. Altogether, Obama won in 26 states plus the District of Columbia, while Romney carried 24 states. Of the 3,154 counties/districts/independent cities making returns, Romney won the most popular votes in 2,447 (77.58%) while Obama carried 707 (22.42%). The results of the electoral vote were certified by Congress on January 4, 2013.Congressional Record at H50 (January 4, 2013). Popular vote totals are from the Federal Election Commission report. Barack Obama (incumbent) Democratic Illinois 65,915,795 51.06% 332 Joe Biden (incumbent) Delaware Mitt Romney Republican Massachusetts 60,933,504 47.20% 206 Paul Ryan Wisconsin Gary Johnson Libertarian New Mexico 1,275,971 0.99% 0 Jim Gray California Jill Stein Green Massachusetts 469,627 0.36% 0 Cheri Honkala Minnesota Virgil Goode Constitution Virginia 122,389 0.09% 0 James N. Clymer Pennsylvania Roseanne Barr Peace and Freedom Hawaii 67,326 0.05% 0 Cindy Sheehan California Rocky Anderson Justice Utah 43,018 0.03% 0 Luis J. Rodriguez Texas Tom Hoefling America's Nebraska 40,628 0.03% 0 J.D. Ellis Tennessee 217,152 0.19% 129,085,410 100% 538 270 thumb|President Obama casts his ballot at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Chicago. Popular vote 600px 410px Obama Democratic Party (US) 51.06 Romney Republican Party (US) 47.20 Johnson Libertarian Party (US) 0.99 Stein Green Party (US) 0.36 Others #777777 0.39 Electoral vote 600px 410px Obama Democratic Party (US) 61.71 Romney Republican Party (US) 38.29 Results by state The table below displays the official vote tallies by each state's Electoral College voting method. The source for the results of all states, except those that amended their official results, is the official Federal Election Commission report. The column labeled "Margin" shows Obama's margin of victory over Romney (the margin is negative for every state that Romney won). + LegendStates/districts won by Obama/BidenStates/districts won by Romney/Ryan † At-large results (for states that split electoral votes) rowspan="2" 1 State ordistrictObama/BidenDemocraticRomney/RyanRepublicanJohnson/GrayLibertarianStein/HonkalaGreenOthersMarginMarginSwingPercentage point difference in margin from the 2008 electionTotalvotes#%EV Electoral Votes#%EV Electoral Votes#%EV Electoral Votes#%EV Electoral Votes#%EV Electoral Votes#%%Alabama Alabama 795,69638.36%–1,255,92560.55%912,3280.59%–3,3970.16%–6,9920.33%–−460,229−22.19%−0.61%2,074,338ALAlaska Alaska 122,64040.81%–164,67654.80%37,3922.46%–2,9170.97%–2,8700.96%–−42,036−13.99%7.55%300,495AKArizona Arizona 1,025,23244.59%–1,233,65453.65%1132,1001.39%–7,8160.34%–4520.02%–−208,422−9.06%−0.54%2,299,254AZArkansas Arkansas 394,40936.88%–647,74460.57%616,2761.52%–9,3050.87%–1,7340.16%–−253,335−23.69%−3.84%1,069,468ARCalifornia California 7,854,28560.24%554,839,95837.12%–143,2211.10%–85,6380.66%–115,4450.88%–3,014,32723.12%−0.94%13,038,547CAColorado Colorado 1,323,10251.49%91,185,24346.13%–35,5451.38%–7,5080.29%–18,1210.71%–137,8585.36%−3.59%2,569,518COConnecticut Connecticut 905,08358.06%7634,89240.73%–12,5800.81%–8630.06%–5,5420.36%–270,19117.33%−5.04%1,558,960CTDelaware Delaware 242,58458.61%3165,48439.98%–3,8820.94%–1,9400.47%–310.01%–77,10018.63%−6.37%413,921DEDistrict of Columbia District of ColumbiaDistrict of Columbia 267,07090.91%321,3817.28%–2,0830.71%–2,4580.84%–7720.26%–245,68983.63%−2.29%293,764DCFlorida Florida 4,237,75650.01%294,163,44749.13%–44,7260.53%–8,9470.11%–19,3030.22%–74,3090.88%−1.94%8,474,179FLGeorgia (U.S. state) Georgia 1,773,82745.48%–2,078,68853.30%1645,3241.16%–1,5160.04%–6950.05%–−304,861−7.82%−2.61%3,900,050GAHawaii Hawaii 306,65870.55%4121,01527.84%–3,8400.88%–3,1840.73%––––185,64342.71%−2.55%434,697HIIdaho Idaho 212,78732.40%–420,91164.09%49,4531.44%–4,4020.67%–9,1891.40%–−208,124−31.69%−6.26%656,742IDIllinois Illinois 3,019,51257.60%202,135,21640.73%–56,2291.07%–30,2220.58%–8350.02%–884,29616.87%−8.27%5,242,014ILIndiana Indiana 1,152,88743.93%–1,420,54354.13%1150,1111.91%–6250.02%–3680.01%–−267,656−10.20%−11.26%2,624,534INIowa Iowa 822,54451.99%6730,61746.18%–12,9260.82%–3,7690.24%–12,3240.77%–91,9275.81%−3.72%1,582,180IAKansas Kansas 440,72637.99%–692,63459.71%620,4561.76%–7140.06%–5,4410.48%–−251,908−21.72%−6.75%1,159,971KSKentucky Kentucky 679,37037.80%–1,087,19060.49%817,0630.95%–6,3370.35%–7,2520.4%–−407,820−22.69%−6.46%1,797,212KYLouisiana Louisiana 809,14140.58%–1,152,26257.78%818,1570.91%–6,9780.35%–7,5270.4%–−343,121−17.20%1.43%1,994,065LAMaine Maine† 401,30656.27%2292,27640.98%–9,3521.31%–8,1191.14%–2,1270.3%–109,03015.29%−2.03%713,180ME–ALMaine ME-1 Maine's 1st congressional district 223,03559.57%1142,93738.18%–4,5011.2%–3,9461.1%––––80,09821.39%−1.43%374,419ME1Maine ME-2 Maine's 2nd congressional district 177,99852.94%1149,21544.38%–4,8431.4%–4,1701.2%––––28,7838.56%−2.69%336,226ME2Maryland Maryland 1,677,84461.97%10971,86935.90%–30,1951.12%–17,1100.63%–10,3090.4%–705,97526.07%0.63%2,707,327MDMassachusetts Massachusetts 1,921,29060.65%111,188,31437.51%–30,9200.98%–20,6910.65%–6,5520.21%–732,97623.14%−2.67%3,167,767MAMichigan Michigan 2,564,56954.21%162,115,25644.71%–7,7740.16%–21,8970.46%–21,4650.5%–449,3139.50%−6.97%4,730,961MIMinnesota 1983 Minnesota 1,546,16752.65%101,320,22544.96%–35,0981.20%–13,0230.44%–22,0480.8%–225,9427.69%−2.55%2,936,561MNMississippi 2001 Mississippi 562,94943.79%–710,74655.29%66,6760.52%–1,5880.12%–3,6250.3%–−147,797−11.50%1.67%1,285,584MSMissouri Missouri 1,223,79644.38%–1,482,44053.76%1043,1511.56%––––7,9360.3%–−258,644−9.38%−9.25%2,757,323MOMontana Montana 201,83941.70%–267,92855.35%314,1652.93%––––116nil–−66,089−13.65%−11.39%484,048MTNebraska Nebraska† 302,08138.03%–475,06459.80%211,1091.40%––––6,1250.77%–−172,983−21.77%−6.84%794,379NE–ALNebraska NE-1 Nebraska's 1st congressional district 108,08240.83%–152,02157.43%1 3,8471.2%––––7620.3%–-43,949-16.60%−6.83%264,712NE1Nebraska NE-2 Nebraska's 2nd congressional district 121,88945.70%–140,97652.85%1 3,3931.3%––––4690.2%–-19,087-7.15%−5.94%266,727NE2Nebraska NE-3 Nebraska's 3rd congressional district 72,11027.82%–182,06770.23%1 3,8691.5%––––1,1770.5%–−109,957−42.41%−3.40%259,223NE3Nevada Nevada 531,37352.36%6463,56745.68%–10,9681.08%––––9,0100.89%–67,8066.68%−5.81%1,014,918NVNew Hampshire New Hampshire 369,56151.98%4329,91846.40%–8,2121.16%–3240.05%–2,9570.4%–39,6435.58%−4.03%710,972NHNew Jersey New Jerseyhttp://nj.gov/state/elections/election-information-archive-2012.html#ge 2012 Election Information February 25, 2013 March 4, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130304065655/http://nj.gov/state/elections/election-information-archive-2012.html#ge live 2,125,10158.38%141,477,56840.59%–21,0450.58%–9,8880.27%–6,6900.2%–647,53317.79%2.22%3,640,292NJNew Mexico New Mexico 415,33552.99%5335,78842.84%–27,7883.55%–2,6910.34%–2,1560.3%–79,54710.15%−4.98%783,758NMNew York (state) New Yorkhttp://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2012/General/President_04-09-2013.pdf NYS Board of Elections President and Vice-President Election Returns Nov. 6, 2012 May 2, 2013 July 25, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130725104912/http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2012/General/President_04-09-2013.pdf dead 4,485,74163.35%292,490,43135.17%–47,2560.67%–39,9820.56%–17,7490.3%–1,995,31028.18%1.32%7,081,159NYNorth Carolina North Carolina 2,178,39148.35%–2,270,39550.39%1544,5150.99%––––12,0710.27%–−92,004−2.04%−2.37%4,505,372NCNorth Dakota North Dakota 124,82738.69%–188,16358.32%35,2311.62%–1,3610.42%–3,0450.9%–−63,336−19.63%−10.99%322,627NDOhio Ohiohttp://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/upload/elections/2012/gen/FinalResults.xlsx Final Results February 25, 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130729175614/http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/upload/elections/2012/gen/FinalResults.xlsx July 29, 2013 2,827,70950.67%182,661,43747.69%–49,4930.89%–18,5730.33%–23,6350.4%–166,2722.98%−1.61%5,580,847OHOklahoma Oklahoma 443,54733.23%–891,32566.77%7–––––––––−447,778−33.54%−2.15%1,334,872OKOregon Oregon 970,48854.24%7754,17542.15%–24,0891.35%–19,4271.09%–21,0911.2%–216,31312.09%−4.26%1,789,270ORPennsylvania Pennsylvania 2,990,27451.97%202,680,43446.59%–49,9910.87%–21,3410.37%–11,6300.2%–309,8405.38%−4.94%5,753,670PARhode Island Rhode Island 279,67762.70%4157,20435.24%–4,3880.98%–2,4210.54%–2,3590.5%–122,47327.46%−0.35%446,049RISouth Carolina South Carolina 865,94144.09%–1,071,64554.56%916,3210.83%–5,4460.28%–4,7650.24%–−205,704−10.47%−1.49%1,964,118SCSouth Dakota South Dakota 145,03939.87%–210,61057.89%35,7951.59%––––2,3710.65%–−65,571−18.02%−9.61%363,815SDTennessee Tennessee 960,70939.08%–1,462,33059.48%1118,6230.76%–6,5150.26%–10,4000.4%–−501,621−20.40%−5.33%2,458,577TNTexas Texas 3,308,12441.38%–4,569,84357.17%3888,5801.11%–24,6570.31%–2,647nil–−1,261,719−15.79%−4.02%7,993,851TXUtah 2011 Utah 251,81324.75%–740,60072.79%612,5721.24%–3,8170.38%–8,6380.9%–−488,787−48.04%−19.75%1,017,440UTVermont Vermont 199,23966.57%392,69830.97%–3,4871.17%–5940.20%–3,2721.1%–106,54135.60%−1.41%299,290VTVirginia Virginia 1,971,82051.16%131,822,52247.28%–31,2160.81%–8,6270.22%–20,3040.5%–149,2983.88%−2.42%3,854,489VAWashington Washington 1,755,39656.16%121,290,67041.29%–42,2021.35%–20,9280.67%–16,3200.5%–464,72614.87%−2.31%3,125,516WAWest Virginia West Virginia238,26935.54%–417,65562.30%56,3020.94%–4,4060.66%–3,8060.57%–−179,386−26.76%−13.64%670,438WVWisconsin Wisconsinhttp://gab.wi.gov/elections-voting/results/2012/fall-general Wisconsin Fall 2012 General Election Results January 18, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130129040530/http://gab.wi.gov/elections-voting/results/2012/fall-general January 29, 2013 dead1,620,98552.83%101,407,96645.89%–20,4390.67%–7,6650.25%–11,3790.4%–213,0196.94%−6.96%3,068,434WIWyoming Wyoming 69,28627.82%–170,96268.64%35,3262.14%––––3,4871.40%–−101,676−40.82%−8.58%249,061WYTotal65,915,79551.06%33260,933,50447.20%2061,275,9710.99%–469,6270.36%–490,5100.4%–4,982,2913.86%−3.41%129,085,410 Obama/BidenDemocratic Romney/RyanRepublican Johnson/GrayLibertarian Stein/HonkalaGreen Others Margin Marginswing Totalvotes Maine and Nebraska each allow for their election results votes to be split between candidates. The winner within each congressional district gets one electoral vote for the district. The winner of the statewide vote gets two additional electoral votes. In the 2012 election, all four of Maine's electoral votes were won by Obama and all five of Nebraska's electoral votes were won by Romney.https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/2012-certificates/pdfs/ascertainment-maine.pdf State of Maine Certificate of Ascertainment of Electors December 18, 2012 December 22, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121222155743/http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/2012-certificates/pdfs/ascertainment-maine.pdf livehttp://www.sos.ne.gov/elec/2012/pdf/2012-general-canvass.pdf Official Results of Nebraska General Election – November 6, 2012 December 26, 2012 April 4, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130404095656/http://www.sos.ne.gov/elec/2012/pdf/2012-general-canvass.pdf live States and EV districts that flipped from Democratic to Republican Indiana Nebraska's 2nd congressional district North Carolina Close states thumb|upright=1.3|Swing from 2008 to 2012 in each state. Only six states swung more Democratic in 2012: Alaska, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, and New York. The arrows to the right represent how many places up or down on the list the state moved since 2008. States are listed by (increasing) percentage of Democratic votes. Red denotes states (or congressional districts that contribute an electoral vote) won by Republican Mitt Romney; blue denotes those won by Democrat Barack Obama. State where the margin of victory was under 1% (29 electoral votes): Florida, 0.88% (74,309 votes) States where the margin of victory was under 5% (46 electoral votes): North Carolina, 2.04% (92,004 votes) Ohio, 2.98% (166,272 votes) Virginia, 3.88% (149,298 votes) States/districts where the margin of victory was between 5% and 10% (120 electoral votes): Colorado, 5.36% (137,858 votes) (tipping point state) Pennsylvania, 5.38% (309,840 votes) New Hampshire, 5.58% (39,643 votes) Iowa, 5.81% (91,927 votes) Nevada, 6.68% (67,806 votes) Wisconsin, 6.94% (213,019 votes) Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, 7.15% (19,087 votes) Minnesota, 7.69% (225,942 votes) Georgia, 7.82% (304,861 votes) Maine's 2nd Congressional District, 8.56% (28,783 votes) Arizona, 9.06% (208,422 votes) Missouri, 9.38% (258,644 votes) Michigan, 9.50% (449,313 votes) Statistics 2012 Presidential General Election Data – National, Uselectionatlas.org. Counties and county-equivalents with highest percentage of Democratic vote: Shannon County, South Dakota 93.39% Kalawao County, Hawaii 92.59% Bronx County, New York 91.45% Washington, D.C. 90.91% Petersburg, Virginia 89.79% Counties with highest percentage of Republican vote: King County, Texas 95.86% Madison County, Idaho 93.29% Sterling County, Texas 92.91% Franklin County, Idaho 92.77% Roberts County, Texas 92.13% Romney's concession thumb|upright|Obama takes a phone call from Romney conceding the election early Wednesday morning in Chicago. After the networks called Ohio for Obama at around 11:15 pm EST on Election Day, Romney was ready to concede the race, but hesitated when Karl Rove strenuously objected on Fox News to the network's decision to make that call. Ohio was arguably the most critical state for Romney, as no Republican has ever won the presidency without carrying it, as of . https://www.boston.com/uncategorized/noprimarytagmatch/2012/12/22/the-story-behind-mitt-romneys-loss-in-the-presidential-campaign-to-president-obama/ The story behind Mitt Romney's loss in the presidential campaign to President Obama Kranish Michael December 22, 2012 Boston Globe February 1, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20130528013007/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2012/president/2012/12/23/the-story-behind-mitt-romney-loss-the-presidential-campaign-president-obama/2QWkUB9pJgVIi1mAcIhQjL/story-5.html May 28, 2013 livehttp://www.newsweek.com/why-rove-went-denial-election-night-226695 The Real Reason for Karl Rove's Election Night Denial Newsweek January 21, 2014 January 29, 2014 February 2, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210202140628/https://www.newsweek.com/why-rove-went-denial-election-night-226695 live However, after Colorado and Nevada were called for the President (giving Obama enough electoral votes to win even if Ohio were to leave his column), in tandem with Obama's apparent lead in Florida and Virginia (both were eventually called for Obama), Romney acknowledged that he had lost and conceded at around 1:00 am EST on November 7. Despite public polling showing Romney behind Obama in the swing states of Nevada, Colorado, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, and New Hampshire, tied with Obama in Virginia, and just barely ahead of Obama in Florida, the Romney campaign said they were genuinely surprised by the loss, having believed that public polling was oversampling Democrats.Adviser: Romney "shellshocked" by loss https://www.cbsnews.com/news/adviser-romney-shellshocked-by-loss/ November 10, 2012 CBS News November 8, 2012 November 9, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121109100308/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57547239/adviser-romney-shellshocked-by-loss/?pageNum=1&tag=page live The Romney campaign had already set up a transition website, and had scheduled and purchased a fireworks display to celebrate in case he won the election.Romney's Transition Site http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/11/07/romneys_transition_site.html https://web.archive.org/web/20121108021452/http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/11/07/romneys_transition_site.html November 8, 2012 November 30, 2012 Political Wire November 7, 2012Romney campaign spent $25,000 on fireworks http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2012/11/09/romney-campaign-spent-fireworks/YrFOs5OEgE98XvjBJ9nItJ/story.html https://web.archive.org/web/20121111171311/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2012/11/09/romney-campaign-spent-fireworks/YrFOs5OEgE98XvjBJ9nItJ/story.html November 11, 2012 November 11, 2012 Boston Globe November 9, 2012 dead On November 30, 2012, it was revealed that shortly before the election, internal polling done by the Romney campaign had shown Romney ahead in Colorado and New Hampshire, tied in Iowa, and within a few points of Obama in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Ohio.When Internal Polls Mislead, a Whole Campaign May Be to Blame http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/01/when-internal-polls-mislead-a-whole-campaign-may-be-to-blame/ December 21, 2012 The New York Times December 1, 2012 Nate Silver December 26, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121226203116/http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/01/when-internal-polls-mislead-a-whole-campaign-may-be-to-blame/ live In addition, the Romney campaign had assumed that they would win Florida, North Carolina and Virginia.Exclusive: The Internal Polls That Made Mitt Romney Think He'd Win http://www.tnr.com/blog/plank/110597/exclusive-the-polls-made-mitt-romney-think-hed-win November 30, 2012 The New Republic November 30, 2012 December 1, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121201075235/http://www.tnr.com/blog/plank/110597/exclusive-the-polls-made-mitt-romney-think-hed-win live The polls had made Romney and his campaign team so confident of their victory that Romney did not write a concession speech until Obama's victory was announced.https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/romneys-belief-in-himself-never-wavered/2012/11/07/50cd03fc-27b8-11e2-9972-71bf64ea091c_story.html Romney's belief in himself never wavered The Washington Post Phillip Rucker November 7, 2012 November 30, 2012 November 12, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121112112017/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/romneys-belief-in-himself-never-wavered/2012/11/07/50cd03fc-27b8-11e2-9972-71bf64ea091c_story.html live http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2012/11/whole-romney-ticket-believed-unskewed-polls/58852/ The Whole Romney Ticket Believed in Unskewed Polls? The Atlantic Wire Elspeth Reeve November 8, 2012 December 17, 2012 December 30, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121230021015/http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2012/11/whole-romney-ticket-believed-unskewed-polls/58852/ dead Reactions Foreign leaders reacted with both positive and mixed messages. Most world leaders congratulated and praised Obama on his re-election victory. However, Venezuela and some other states had tempered reactions. Pakistan commented that Romney's defeat had made Pakistan-United States relations safer. Stock markets fell noticeably after Obama's re-election, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, NASDAQ, and the S&P 500 each declining over two percent the day after the election.Cheng Jonathan Dow's 300-Point Slide Takes It Back to August Levels https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323894704578104153584769278?mod=wsj_streaming_markets November 7, 2012 The Wall Street Journal November 7, 2012 July 24, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200724153122/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323894704578104153584769278?mod=wsj_streaming_markets live All 50 states had a petition on the White House website We The People calling for their state to secede from the union. These petitions were created by individual people, with some gaining thousands of signatures.Ryan Danielle 2012-11-14 White House receives secession pleas from all 50 states https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-xpm-2012-nov-14-la-pn-white-house-secession-50-states-20121114-story.html 2023-07-10 Los Angeles Times en-US July 10, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230710182319/https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-xpm-2012-nov-14-la-pn-white-house-secession-50-states-20121114-story.html live Voter demographics 2012 presidential election by demographic subgroup Demographic subgroupObamaRomneyOther % oftotal vote Total vote 51 47 2 100Ideology Liberals 86 11 3 25 Moderates 56 41 3 41 Conservatives 17 82 1 35Party Democrats 92 7 1 38 Republicans 6 93 1 32 Independents 45 50 5 29Gender Men 45 52 3 47 Women 55 44 1 53Marital status Married 42 56 2 60 Unmarried 62 35 3 40Sex by marital status Married men 38 60 2 29 Married women 46 53 1 31 Single men 56 40 4 18 Single women 67 31 2 23Race/ethnicity White 39 59 2 72 Black 93 6 1 13 Asian 73 26 1 3 Other 58 38 4 2 Hispanic 71 27 2 10Religion Protestant or other Christian 42 57 1 53 Catholic 50 48 2 25 Mormon 21 78 1 2 Jewish 69 30 1 2 Muslim 85 4 11 1 Other 74 23 3 7 None 70 26 4 12Religious service attendance More than once a week 36 63 1 14 Once a week 41 58 1 28 A few times a month 55 44 1 13 A few times a year 56 42 2 27 Never 62 34 4 17White evangelical or born-again Christian? White evangelical or born-again Christian 21 78 1 26 Everyone else 60 37 3 74Age 18–24 years old 60 36 4 11 25–29 years old 60 38 2 8 30–39 years old 55 42 3 17 40–49 years old 48 50 2 20 50–64 years old 47 52 1 28 65 and older 44 56 0 16Age by race Whites 18–29 years old 44 51 5 11 Whites 30–44 years old 38 59 3 18 Whites 45–64 years old 38 61 1 29 Whites 65 and older 39 61 n/a 14 Blacks 18–29 years old 91 8 1 3 Blacks 30–44 years old 94 5 1 4 Blacks 45–64 years old 93 7 n/a 4 Blacks 65 and older 93 6 1 1 Latinos 18–29 years old 74 23 3 4 Latinos 30–44 years old 71 28 1 3 Latinos 45–64 years old 68 31 1 3 Latinos 65 and older 65 35 n/a 1 Others 67 31 2 5LGBT Yes 76 22 2 5 No 49 49 2 95Education Not a high school graduate 64 35 1 3 High school graduate 51 48 1 21 Some college education 49 48 3 29 College graduate 47 51 2 29 Postgraduate education 55 42 3 18Family income Under $30,000 63 35 2 20 $30,000–49,999 57 42 1 21 $50,000–99,999 46 52 2 31 $100,000–199,999 44 54 2 21 $200,000–249,999 47 52 1 3 Over $250,000 42 55 3 4Union households Union 58 40 2 18 Non-union 49 48 3 82Issue regarded as most important Economy 47 51 2 59 Federal budget deficit 32 66 2 15 Foreign policy 56 33 11 5 Health care 75 24 1 18Region Northeast 59 40 1 18 Midwest 50 48 2 24 South 46 53 1 36 West 54 43 3 22Community size Big cities (population over 500,000) 69 29 2 11 Mid-sized cities (population 50,000 to 500,000) 58 40 2 21 Suburbs 48 50 2 47 Towns (population 10,000 to 50,000) 42 56 2 8 Rural areas 37 61 2 14 Hispanic vote The United States has a population of 50 million Hispanic and Latino Americans, 27 million of whom are citizens eligible to vote (13% of total eligible voters). Traditionally, only half of eligible Hispanic voters vote (around 7% of voters); of them, 71% voted for Barack Obama (increasing his percentage of the vote by 5%); therefore, the Hispanic vote was an important factor in Obama's re-election, since the vote difference between the two main parties was only 3.9%http://www.pewhispanic.org/2016/01/19/looking-forward-to-2016-the-changing-latino-electorate/ 1. Looking Forward to 2016: The Changing Latino Electorate Jens Manuel Krogstad Mark Hugo Lopez Gustavo López Jeffrey S. Passel Eileen Patten January 19, 2016 Pew Research Center September 26, 2016 February 17, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210217195613/https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2016/01/19/looking-forward-to-2016-the-changing-latino-electorate/ livehttp://www.pewhispanic.org/2016/01/19/millennials-make-up-almost-half-of-latino-eligible-voters-in-2016/ Millennials Make Up Almost Half of Latino Eligible Voters in 2016 Jens Manuel Krogstad Mark Hugo Lopez Gustavo López Jeffrey S. Passel Eileen Patten January 19, 2016 Pew Research Center September 26, 2016 February 17, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210217195613/https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2016/01/19/millennials-make-up-almost-half-of-latino-eligible-voters-in-2016/ livehttp://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/02/03/2016-electorate-will-be-the-most-diverse-in-u-s-history/ 2016 electorate will be the most diverse in U.S. history February 3, 2016 Pew Research Center Krogstad Jens Manuel September 26, 2016 February 17, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210217195650/https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/02/03/2016-electorate-will-be-the-most-diverse-in-u-s-history/ livehttps://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/18/magazine/27-million-potential-hispanic-votes-but-what-will-they-really-add-up-to.html 27 Million Potential Hispanic Votes. But What Will They Really Add Up To? September 18, 2016 The New York Times Valdes Marcela February 28, 2017 January 4, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210104153233/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/18/magazine/27-million-potential-hispanic-votes-but-what-will-they-really-add-up-to.html live Exit polls were conducted by Edison Research of Somerville, New Jersey, for the National Election Pool, a consortium which at the time consisted of ABC News, Associated Press, CBS News, CNN,http://www.cnn.com/election/2012/results/race/president/ Presidential Race – 2012 Election Center – Elections & Politics from CNN.com CNN February 5, 2018 February 6, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180206070621/http://www.cnn.com/election/2012/results/race/president/ live Fox News,http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2012-exit-poll Fox News Exit Polls January 27, 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130126102046/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2012-exit-poll Fox News January 26, 2013 and NBC News.http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/results/president/exit-polls President Exit Polls The New York Times January 27, 2013 April 30, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160430143842/http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/results/president/exit-polls live Analysis Upon his re-election in 2012, Obama became the third consecutive president to be elected to a second term (after his immediate predecessors Bill Clinton and George W. Bush). This only happened once before, when James Monroe was re-elected in 1820, after Thomas Jefferson and James Madison had served two terms each.Hum Robert Two-Term Presidency Musings https://www.cnbc.com/2012/11/07/twoterm-presidency-musings.html February 12, 2013 CNBC November 7, 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20130729183835/http://www.cnbc.com/id/49722770/TwoTerm_Presidency_Musings July 29, 2013 The 2012 election was the first election since 1928 in which neither major-party ticket featured a presidential or vice presidential candidate with any military experience.Dilanian, Ken (August 11, 2012) "Ryan pick cements lack of military service in presidential race" https://web.archive.org/web/20240420011248/https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-xpm-2012-aug-11-la-pn-ryan-pick-cements-lack-of-military-service-in-presidential-campaign-20120811-story.html April 20, 2024 , Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 11, 2014. The election was arguably decided by three counties: Miami-Dade County (Florida); Cuyahoga County (Ohio) and Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). If these three counties had cast zero votes, Obama would have lost all three states and the election.56 Interesting Facts About the 2016 Election December 16, 2016 The Cook Political Report http://cookpolitical.com/story/10201 https://web.archive.org/web/20170715170550/http://cookpolitical.com/story/10201 July 15, 2017 Obama won three states that have not voted Democratic since: Florida, Ohio, and Iowa. This was also the last election that the Democratic candidate won Maine's 2nd congressional district. This election marked the first time since Franklin D. Roosevelt's last two re-elections in 1940 and 1944 that the Democratic nominee won a majority of the popular vote (as opposed to a plurality) in two consecutive elections.http://www.thenation.com/blog/171178/obama-has-great-big-mandate-and-he-must-use-it Obama's 3 Million Vote, Electoral College Landslide, Majority of States Mandate Nichols John November 9, 2012 The Nation New York November 18, 2012 November 27, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121127235843/http://www.thenation.com/blog/171178/obama-has-great-big-mandate-and-he-must-use-it live Obama also became the first president of either party to secure a majority of the popular vote in two consecutive elections since Ronald Reagan in 1980 and 1984.Giroux Greg Final Tally Shows Obama First Since '56 to Win 51% Twice https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-03/final-tally-shows-obama-first-since-56-to-win-51-twice.html February 12, 2013 Bloomberg January 4, 2013 January 15, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130115033953/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-03/final-tally-shows-obama-first-since-56-to-win-51-twice.html live Obama is the third Democratic president to secure at least 51% of the vote twice, after Andrew Jackson and Franklin D. Roosevelt.Frank, Steve (January 7, 2014) "Obama first presidential candidate since Eisenhower to top 51% twice" https://web.archive.org/web/20200820185025/http://www.msnbc.com/the-ed-show/obama-first-presidential-candidate-eise August 20, 2020 , MSNBC.com. Retrieved December 11, 2014. Romney won the popular vote in 226 congressional districts making this the first time since 1960 that the winner of the election did not win the popular vote in a majority of the congressional districts.http://cookpolitical.com/file/2013-04-50.pdf Presidential Results By Congressional Districts: Obama is reelected but Romney carries a majority of districts Bensen Clark April 4, 2013 Cookpolitical.com June 25, 2017 June 17, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170617233059/http://cookpolitical.com/file/2013-04-50.pdf live This is the last time that the Democratic nominee won a majority of states in a presidential election. Romney lost his home state of Massachusetts, becoming the first major party presidential candidate to lose his home state since Democrat Al Gore lost his home state of Tennessee to Republican George W. Bush in 2000.Gabbatt Adam Romney poised to lose home state by wider margin than any other candidate https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/19/romney-lose-home-state-massachusetts February 12, 2013 The Guardian London October 19, 2012 November 11, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131111214504/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/19/romney-lose-home-state-massachusetts live Romney lost his home state by more than 23%, the worst losing margin for a major party candidate since John Frémont in 1856.Ostermeier Eric 20 Presidential Tickets That Lost Both Home States http://blog.lib.umn.edu/cspg/smartpolitics/2012/11/20_presidential_tickets_that_l.php February 12, 2013 Smart Politics (University of Minnesota blog) November 14, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121115002716/http://blog.lib.umn.edu/cspg/smartpolitics/2012/11/20_presidential_tickets_that_l.php November 15, 2012 dead Even worse than Frémont, Romney failed to win a single county in his home state, something last seen by Theodore Roosevelt in 1912.http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/datagraph.php?fips=25&year=2012&off=0&elect=0&f=0 March 8, 2013 2012 Presidential General Election Data – Massachusetts by County Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas July 29, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130729192742/http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/datagraph.php?fips=25&year=2012&off=0&elect=0&f=0 live http://geoelections.free.fr/USA/elec_comtes/1856.htm March 9, 2013 Presidential Election of 1856 – Map by counties Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections May 12, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130512133118/http://geoelections.free.fr/USA/elec_comtes/1856.htm live In addition, since Obama carried Ryan's home state of Wisconsin, the Romney–Ryan ticket was the first major party ticket since 1972 to have both of its nominees lose their home states.http://editions.lib.umn.edu/smartpolitics/2012/11/14/20-presidential-tickets-that-l/ 20 Presidential Tickets That Lost Both Home States Smart Politics Eric Ostermeier November 14, 2012 July 12, 2015 August 17, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200817143933/https://editions.lib.umn.edu/smartpolitics/2012/11/14/20-presidential-tickets-that-l/ live Romney won the popular vote in every county of three states: Utah, Oklahoma, and West Virginia; Obama did so in four states: Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Hawaii.Blow, Charles M. (November 9, 2012) "Election Data Dive" https://web.archive.org/web/20210206225705/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/10/opinion/blow-election-data-dive.html?_r=0 February 6, 2021 , The New York Times. Retrieved December 11, 2014. Romney's loss prompted the Republican National Committee to try to appeal to the American Latino population by concentrating on different approaches to immigration. These were short-lived due to activity and anger from the Republican base and may have contributed to the selection of Donald Trump as their party's presidential nominee four years later.Harwood, John. "Donald Trump Takes Advantage of a Republican Party Pitted Against Itself." https://web.archive.org/web/20201108112553/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/07/us/politics/donald-trump-republicans-anger.html November 8, 2020 New York Times. October 6, 2016. October 6, 2016. Gary Johnson's popular vote total set a Libertarian Party record, and his popular vote percentage was the second-best showing for a Libertarian in a presidential election, trailing only Ed Clark's in 1980.Harrington Gerry Libertarian Party buoyant; Greens hopeful http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012/11/08/Libertarian-Party-buoyant-Greens-hopeful/UPI-46151352363400/ February 12, 2013 United Press International November 8, 2012 February 18, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130218223524/http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012/11/08/Libertarian-Party-buoyant-Greens-hopeful/UPI-46151352363400 live Johnson would go on to beat this record in the 2016 presidential election, winning the most votes for the Libertarian ticket in history. At the time, Green Party candidate Jill Stein's popular vote total made her the most successful female presidential candidate in a general election in United States history.http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2015/11/30/jill-stein-president-feature/ Harvard Grad Jill Stein Faces Uphill Battle for Presidency The Harvard Crimson Daniel Wood November 30, 2015 June 12, 2016 June 20, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160620164242/http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2015/11/30/jill-stein-president-feature/ live http://grist.org/politics/meet-the-presidential-candidate-who-makes-bernie-sanders-look-conservative/ Meet the presidential candidate who makes Bernie Sanders look conservative Grist Magazine Katie Herzog March 14, 2016 June 12, 2016 December 2, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201202111850/https://grist.org/politics/meet-the-presidential-candidate-who-makes-bernie-sanders-look-conservative/ live This was later surpassed by Hillary Clinton in 2016. Obama is the fifth incumbent Democratic president to have won re-election to a second term, along with Andrew Jackson, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Bill Clinton.In 1892, Democrat Grover Cleveland won a second non-consecutive term, after losing his re-election campaign in 1888. Obama is also the most recent incumbent Democratic president to have won re-election to a second term. This presidential election was the most recent in which no state split its electoral votes, and the most recent in which a candidate received over 60% of the Electoral College vote. This is the most recent election in which two major party nominees would go on to become president (namely, Obama and Biden). Obama's vote total was the fourth most votes received (behind Obama's 2008 victory and both major candidates in 2020) prior to 2024 and the most ever for a re-elected incumbent president.In 2024, Donald Trump was elected to a second non-consecutive term. Trump's vote total in 2024 was the second most votes received (behind only Biden's vote total in 2020). The election marked the first time since 1988 in which no state was won by a candidate with a plurality of the state's popular vote. Furthermore, it is the only post-World War II presidential election in which no states were won by margins smaller than 30,000 votes. Obama's narrowest victories were in New Hampshire by 39,643 votes, followed by Florida by 74,309 votes. Every other presidential election in modern history has seen states narrowly won by several thousand votes. As of 2026, this is also the most recent election in which both all of Maine and Nebraska's electoral votes were won by one candidate. So far, this is the only presidential election in history where both the Republican and Democratic vice presidential candidates are practicing Roman Catholics. It is also the only presidential election where there are no white Protestants on a major party ticket. As of 2026, Obama is the most recent incumbent president to have won re-election to a second term,Donald Trump was elected to a second non-consecutive term in 2024, after losing his re-election campaign in 2020. lower-alpha and this is also the most recent election where any major party won consecutive elections. Obama was the first Democrat since Franklin D. Roosevelt to win a majority of the popular vote more than once. While Obama was the first president since Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956 to receive more than 51% of the popular vote twice,Giroux Greg January 4, 2013 Final Tally Shows Obama First Since '56 to Win 51% Twice Bloomberg News https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-01-03/final-tally-shows-obama-first-since-56-to-win-51-twice September 3, 2025 he was also the first president since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936, 1940, and 1944 to win consecutive presidential elections with declining percentages of the popular vote.Krayewski Ed November 19, 2012 Barack Obama First President Re-Elected With Less Popular, Electoral Support Second Time Around Reason Reason Foundation https://reason.com/2012/11/19/barack-obama-first-president-re-elected/ September 3, 2025While elected to non-consecutive terms, Grover Cleveland won the 1892 presidential election while receiving a smaller percentage of the popular vote than he received when he won in 1884. While Andrew Jackson received a smaller percentage of the popular vote in 1832 than he received in 1828, the presidential electors of Delaware in 1828 and South Carolina in both elections were appointed at the discretion of the state legislature rather than by popular vote.Presidential Election Margin of Victory November 6, 2024 The American Presidency Project University of California, Santa Barbara https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/statistics/data/presidential-election-mandates September 4, 2025Williams Norman R. Why the National Popular Vote Compact is Unconstitutional 2012 BYU Law Review J. Reuben Clark Law School 2012 5 1567 https://digitalcommons.law.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2686&context=lawreview October 14, 2020 May 6, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210506175208/https://digitalcommons.law.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2686&context=lawreview live Obama was the most recent of just four presidents in United States history to win re-election with a lower percentage of the electoral vote than in their prior elections, the other three were James Madison in 1812, Woodrow Wilson in 1916 and Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940 and 1944. Additionally, Obama was the fifth of only five presidents to win re-election with a smaller percentage of the popular vote than in prior elections, the other four are James Madison in 1812, Andrew Jackson in 1832, Grover Cleveland in 1892, and Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940 and 1944. All four major candidates for president and vice president went on to hold significant public office after this election. Obama and Biden served their second terms as president and vice president, respectively. Biden initially retired from politics after leaving office, but later was elected president in 2020, defeating Trump, and served one term. Romney moved to Utah in 2014 and was elected to the Senate there in 2018, succeeding Orrin Hatch, and served one term. Ryan served three more terms in the House and eventually served as Speaker from 2015 until his retirement from politics in 2019. Maps Gallery See also United States Politics 2010s Planned presidential transition of Mitt Romney Bill Clinton's speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention 2012 United States Senate elections 2012 United States House of Representatives elections 2012 United States gubernatorial elections Nationwide opinion polling for the 2012 United States presidential election Statewide opinion polling for the 2012 United States presidential election Timeline of the 2012 United States presidential election Second inauguration of Barack Obama Notes lower-alpha References 30em Further reading Balz Dan Dan Balz Collision 2012: Obama vs. Romney and the Future of Elections in America 2013 Viking Press New York 978-0670025947 Gardner, Liz, et al. "Press Coverage of the 2012 US Presidential Election: A Multinational, Cross-Language Comparison". in Die US-Präsidentschaftswahl 2012 (Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden, 2016). pp 241–267. Hansen, Wendy L., Michael S. Rocca, and Brittany Leigh Ortiz. "The effects of Citizens United on corporate spending in the 2012 presidential election". Journal of Politics 77.2 (2015): 535–545. in JSTOR https://web.archive.org/web/20201107004646/https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/680077 November 7, 2020 John Heilemann John Heilemann Mark Halperin Mark Halperin Double Down: Game Change 2012 Penguin Press New York 2013 978-1594204401 Masket, Seth, John Sides, and Lynn Vavreck. "The Ground Game in the 2012 Presidential Election". Political Communication (2015) 33#2 pp: 1–19. William G. Mayer Jonathan Bernstein The Making of the Presidential Candidates, 2012 Rowman & Littlefield 2012 978-1-4422-1170-4 Scholars explore nominations in the post-public-funding era, digital media and campaigns, television coverage, and the Tea Party. Miller, William J., ed. The 2012 Nomination and the Future of the Republican Party: The Internal Battle (Lexington Books; 2013) 265 pages; essays by experts on Romney and each of his main rivals Nelson, Michael, ed. The Elections of 2012 (2013) excerpt and text search https://web.archive.org/web/20210317115307/https://www.amazon.com/The-Elections-of-2012-ebook/dp/B00C9JAYQU/ March 17, 2021 ; topical essays by experts Sides, John, and Lynn Vavreck. The Gamble: Choice and Chance in the 2012 Presidential Election (Princeton U.P. 2013) excerpt and text search https://web.archive.org/web/20190828224418/https://www.amazon.com/Gamble-Choice-Chance-Presidential-Election/dp/0691163634/ August 28, 2019 Stempel III, Guido H. and Thomas K. Hargrove, eds. The 21st-Century Voter: Who Votes, How They Vote, and Why They Vote (2 vol. 2015). External links Category:2012 United States presidential election no no no no no 2012 U.S. presidential election The 9 Swing States of 2012 2012 Presidential Form 2 Filers at the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Election 2012 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions 2012 Interactive Electoral Map Election of 2012 in Counting the Votes https://web.archive.org/web/20190828224410/http://www.countingthevotes.com/2012/ August 28, 2019 The Choice 2012 Frontline Frontline (American TV program) PBS WGBH October 9, 2012 30 21 https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentary/choice-2012/ November 28, 2024 Category:Barack Obama 2012 presidential campaign Category:Barack Obama Category:Vice presidency of Joe Biden Category:Mitt Romney 2012 presidential campaign Category:Mitt Romney Category:Paul Ryan Category:November 2012 in the United States Category:Presidency of Barack Obama Category:Post–civil rights era in African-American history Category:2008 United States presidential election