Election Results: The Presidential Race
In his victory speech last night, President Barack Obama spoke of reaching out to Republicans to address issues that can only be solved together. He won a second term after a tough race against GOP challenger Mitt Romney and record-breaking campaign spending on both sides. Many say he prevailed over Romney, at least in part, as a result of changing U.S. demographics: a rising number of Latino voters and the declining impact of white voters. Obama faces a Congress that remains divided and a still-struggling economy. Please join us to to talk about the challenges ahead for both Democrats and Republicans.
Guests
professor and director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University, and author of "Obama in Office: The First Two Years."
director of the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press.
founder and president of the Bernard Center for Women, Politics and Public Policy.

Comments
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And the winner is: Big Money!
You just think one of the guys in the picture won.
LOL
I think I prefer that to what I'm thinking.
since when has a ticket not won the state of either the presidential or vice presidential candidate? is this not a tremendous story. this proves that the rabid opposition to anything obama is based in racial hatred. republican strength is rooted in the confederacy still angry about losing the civil war and old and rural white people. romney should have had his headuarters not in boston but in some small town in montana or mississippi. that is where his support is.
Racism has always been a significant factor in human history. In fact, it could be argued that it is a significant characteristic of human nature. And human nature is the one thing in all of the human race that cannot be changed. Certainly it is possible for individuals to rise above human nature and become better humans. But most people don't really consider that possibility, and therefore they don't bother. In fact, I would argue that human nature, coupled with continued over-population, is the greatest threat to our world.
I believe the cartoon character Pogo once stated it best:
"We have met the enemy, and he is us."
That's the strange thing about you libs, you won and your still angry and contemptuous, a permanent state of mind apparently. Enjoy your win while you can because were all in for a rough ride. The candidate that was most likely and capable to do something about maintaining our standard of living and the value of our savings lost. If Obama is in the least concerned about these things he will approve the Keystone Pipeline, I look for this to know what his real plans are.
Barack Obama spoke again of major reforms that he wants to tackle: Debt, Jobs/Stimulus, Energy/Environment, Immigration, and more Education.
Obviously the debt crisis looms but after that, which of these issues will he be able to take on in this (arguably unchanged) political climate?
Nationally the Democrats did well in both the Senate and Presidential races where district lines have no effect, but less well in House races where district lines do have an effect. As a Texas Democrat, I know that fewer Democrats are elected to the House of Representatives because of how district lines are drawn. Nationwide, is the discrepancy between Presidential and Senate races favoring Democrats and House races favoring Republicans due to the effects of redistricting favoring Republicans?
The TV comments have been that there is no change in the make up of Congress, but what about the changes in the Tea Party influence? Were Tea Party Republicans replaced by more moderate Republicans? In Senate races where Republicans were favored to win they were defeated. This would send a message that we want more negotiation and compromise to resolve major issues, i.e. buget and the deficit.
I think the the Presidential Election was won by Obama because the American public chose to embrace people values not money values.
Republicans could not become a responsible governing party until they experienced the consequences of extremism. Now that has happened. Republicans effectively ceded winnable Senate seats by nominating far-right candidates. And they lost a potentially winnable presidential election by nominating a candidate who ran on the Paul Ryan budget and even named Ryan as his running mate.
I would say that last night was a rejection of radical conservativism.
I would suggest that listeners read Dana Milbank's column in today's (11/7)Washington Post in order to understand why Romney/Ryan lost.
I would also highly recommend that the House learn to play nice with the administration. Pres. Obama was re-elected, the people have spoken.
partisan politics wrote:
"The candidate that was most likely and capable to do something about maintaining our standard of living and the value of our savings lost. "
There were two possible outcomes to this election; One was 1980 redux, if the people could really comprehend how bad things are.
The other was what we got; "A democracy can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury. After that, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits with the result the democracy collapses because of the loose fiscal policy ensuing, always to be followed by a dictatorship, then a monarchy".
Lola Mae Belle wrote:
"I think the the Presidential Election was won by Obama because the American public chose to embrace people values not money values."
No, Lola. They embraced "money values". See my previous response to partisan politics.
"the people have spoken"
But what did they say?
Not much!
Barack Obama 59674249 50%
Mitt Romney 57055308 48%
Control of House D 191 R 232
Control of Senate D 51 R 45
All things considered, there's not a mandate for anything.
That's the strange thing about you cons, you lost and you're still trying to run the agenda, a permanent state of mind, I guess. Has it dawned on you yet that the people who told you "the polls are wrong", "Romney's going to win over 300 electoral votes", "Rasmussen is the most accurate pollster", and all the other nonsense you Republicans have been telling yourselves- those same conservative voices I've seen you repeat over and over- are also wrong about climate change, taxes, the deficit, birth control, vaginal probes, SS, MC and everything else? Has it dawned on you yet that if YOU were wrong about this last election, maybe you're not so good at figuring out the right answer- maybe you should have more respect for the winners and let them run things without constant obstruction.
dabears9 wrote:
"Barack Obama spoke again of major reforms that he wants to tackle: Debt, Jobs/Stimulus, Energy/Environment, Immigration, and more Education.
Obviously the debt crisis looms but after that, which of these issues will he be able to take on in this (arguably unchanged) political climate?"
Answer: None of them. They are the same things he promised last time. Instead we got 1T stimulus wasted, bailouts to unions, and Obamacare.
partisan politics wrote:
' "the people have spoken"
But what did they say?
Not much! '
They said more than you rightwingers did!
Whose bitter now?
Markets are LOVING the election results!
DOW down 1.6%
NAZ down 1.5%
Good times ahead, everyone!
VanFromGreensboro wrote: Whose bitter now?
You!
Surprisingly, I agree with partisan politics. There is no mandate given and as I posted here after the 2010 election, where there wasn't a mandate, the winning party will make the mistake and assume there is one.
With that said, isn't it time for the Republicans to play nicely in the sandbox? Yes, yes the Democrats are almost as bad but the Republicans obstructionist stance has to go. Fight for what you believe but in the end compromise and move forward. This is not a war, with the enemy needing to be bludgeoned in to submission. It is America where we are all in the same boat. If everybody is willing to give and take there are no losers. That goes for you Democrats also.
Well another 4 years defined by people wanting the other guy to pay for their lives. If more people recognized that they are responsible for their own lives and ultimately for the financial solvency of their families we wouldn't even know the name Obama. Well nothing to do about it now, except to protect our assets. My wife and I donate to a number of charities that we believe in from the prevention of animal cruelty to burn victims. As my tax responsibilities rise to donate to causes I do not agree with, my ability to donate to these fine charities will be negatively effected, and they will be the real victims. Well enjoy your government cheese and be sure to spit on the well-to-do person who bought it for you. Also when you get downsized make sure to send a thank you letter to Obama. Just so you know me and mine will be fine because we save for rainy days, well it's about to pour, how are you doing.
What does it say about the American electorate that some many Republican governors were elected yet President Obama still won the election?
Well, the election is over and we have selected a leader for the next 4 years. Now is the time for us (the people) to take charge of our government and make it effective. If we have a Congress that can’t solve the problems we face; it’s up to us (the people) to do something about it.
Let’s get rid of every legislator that follows the party line instead of working for us. If a legislator is not solving our problems, is intransigent, let’s throw them out. And let’s start with the Obstructionist Four: Mitch McConnell (who has already thrown down the gauntlet), Harry Reid, John Boehner and Nancy Pelosi. Let’s get rid of every legislator who spins the truth to fit the party line. If he/she blindly follows some ideology instead of solving our critical problems – throw them out. We have two years to plan for this. If it means throwing out every single member of Congress and the senators who are up for election – so be it.
Carol Sroczynski (Sro-zin'-ski)
Cross Lanes, WV
Here's a radical suggestion: the constitution originally mandated that the losing candidate join the winner as VP. In once sense it's laughably archaic, but maybe now it's exactly what a radically divided country and leadership needs.
What if President Obama found a way to exchange Vice-President Biden (a divisive figure) for an olive-branch able to reunite the country? He'd put to shame all those who questioned his deserving a Nobel Prize.
Maybe it's impossible but we are in such need of real Change to move Forward, even if it takes a miracle!
Your program will no doubt profess that everyone was for Obama - don't believe your own retoric! I am firmly opposed to this president and fear for the Country now that he has been reelected. I expect the Republicans to continue to oppose his socialization of the Country.
Stephen Griffin wrote: "What does it say about the American electorate that so many Republican governors were elected yet President Obama still won the election?"
It says to me they understand fiscal problems at the state level and not at the federal level.
romney won independents because they're not moderates. many independents are far right tea partiers who consider themselves independent of republican party.
What do you think about the comments that Donald Trump made last night?
How are you able to tell how many Latinos, African-Americans, and whites voted for whom?
Thank you for answering.
One of your guest said that Obama lost independents more than in 2008. It is worth mentioning that there is more people calling themselves independents today, and most of them are dissapointed Republicans, who don't like the way their old party is going.