Obama’s Aura of Defeat

The New York Times ^ | October 24, 2012 | Ross Douthat

[newzjunkey]

Losing campaigns have a certain feel to them: They go negative hard, try out new messaging very late in the game, hype issues that only their core supporters are focused on, and try to turn non-gaffes and minor slip-ups by their opponents into massive, election-turning scandals...

That's the Obama campaign to a tee.

[TomEwall]

Anytime I see articles saying Obama is still the favorite, I look to see what they say about Independents, and I see nothing. How does Obama win if Romney is winning among Independents by 7+ points? I never see this question addressed. By Dem turnout, it would have to be, but what evidence is there that this year Dem turnout will be so much higher than GOP turnout that Obama will succeed where no other incumbent has by winning an election while carrying only around 43% of the Independent vote?