When the Washington Post says it’s a dead heat for Obama, I automatically give Mitt at least five points, possibly more.
I can still remember every newscaster in America staring into the cameras on election night 1980 and saying with perfectly straight faces that the election was “too close to call”.
Right, these numbers in a Washington Post poll point to a Romney 53 to 47 victory.
If we are realistic about the sad state of affairs in our nation we will acknowledge that almost half our fellow citizens are reliant on Uncle Sugar. In past decades there is little doubt that Obama would be toast based on his performance and the stagnant economy. However, we need to admit that roughly 50/50 is the new norm in politics. It will be very difficult to turn things around given that we will be looking at decades of “austerity” measures to dig ourselves out of the hole. Cut enough of the government bennies and the other side will be highly motivated - see Greece, France, and what the rats are attempting in Wisconsin.
I am not optimistic we could sustain any kind of long term austerity measures to pay down our debt while we allowed the free market to grow the economy. There are plenty of “conservatives” who will vote for themselves too when the cuts affect them. Sorry, that is just the way I see it. We are in a world of hurt and it will take generations to turn it around. Difficult to do when a nation is so evenly divided and the media/academia are firmly in the other sides camp.
Me too. I also remember in 2004 when they pretty much said Kerry won based on exit polls.
There sample self identified as 22% GOP and 32% Dim.
I thought 1980 was a close race; the landslide was 1984.