President Obama started his reelection campaign vulnerable, with unemployment high and economic growth sluggish. But he remained personally popular, and he could still give a rousing speech, in contrast to the charismatically challenged Mitt Romney. The president argued that the economic mess he had inherited was so big he needed four more years to finish the job. He also scored points on the killing of Osama bin Laden. In the key swing state of Ohio, his bailout of the auto industry loomed large.
But perhaps more than anything, Mr. Obama beat Mr. Romney on empathy, convincing voters that he understood "people like them." Team Obama ran the most sophisticated campaign in history, gathering data on voters through public sources and personal contacts, and then pushing turnout. As in 2008, Obama scored big among African-Americans, Latinos, women, young voters, gays, and Jews.
By Election Day, Nov. 6, unemployment had trickled down to 7.7 percent. The nation's first black president won reelection, 51 percent to 47 percent.
– Linda Feldmann
Reporter's takeaway: “I attended both conventions and saw many memorable moments: Clint Eastwood talking to an empty chair. Marco Rubio bringing tears to people’s eyes. Jennifer Granholm’s gyrations. But nothing matched Bill Clinton’s 45-minute tour de force speech, which may have sealed the deal for Obama’s reelection.”
