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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Barack Obama victory comes courtesy of rainbow coalition | Barack Obama victory comes courtesy of rainbow coalition |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Barack Obama won a second term in the US presidential election by reassembling the rainbow coalition that took him to the White House in 2008. | Barack Obama won a second term in the US presidential election by reassembling the rainbow coalition that took him to the White House in 2008. |
| In the end, the result was not particularly close; Obama won the popular vote and the electoral college, with 303 electoral votes. | In the end, the result was not particularly close; Obama won the popular vote and the electoral college, with 303 electoral votes. |
| Defying historical precedent, Obama was re-elected with the highest unemployment rate (7.9%) of any president returned to office since Franklin Roosevelt in 1936, and became only the second Democrat since Roosevelt to win another term (Bill Clinton being the other). | Defying historical precedent, Obama was re-elected with the highest unemployment rate (7.9%) of any president returned to office since Franklin Roosevelt in 1936, and became only the second Democrat since Roosevelt to win another term (Bill Clinton being the other). |
| But projections based on exit polls taken as voters left the polling stations indicated that large social and ethnic divides continue to separate Americans and may hamper the president's agenda for change. | But projections based on exit polls taken as voters left the polling stations indicated that large social and ethnic divides continue to separate Americans and may hamper the president's agenda for change. |
| Race | Race |
| As expected, exit polls suggested that the Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, took a majority of the white vote – securing the backing of about six in 10 white voters, according to one estimate. But Obama dominated in other racial groups. Romney lost by almost 40 percentage points among Hispanics, by almost 50 points among Asians, and by more than 80 points among African Americans, polls showed. | As expected, exit polls suggested that the Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, took a majority of the white vote – securing the backing of about six in 10 white voters, according to one estimate. But Obama dominated in other racial groups. Romney lost by almost 40 percentage points among Hispanics, by almost 50 points among Asians, and by more than 80 points among African Americans, polls showed. |
| According to a CNN exit poll, Obama took about 71% of the Hispanic vote, compared with 27% for Romney. Hispanics comprise the biggest non-white voting bloc. Overall, non-white voters – a growing share of the total electorate – overwhelmingly supported the president. The exit polls suggested that they made up 21% of all voters, compared with only 10% in 1996. | According to a CNN exit poll, Obama took about 71% of the Hispanic vote, compared with 27% for Romney. Hispanics comprise the biggest non-white voting bloc. Overall, non-white voters – a growing share of the total electorate – overwhelmingly supported the president. The exit polls suggested that they made up 21% of all voters, compared with only 10% in 1996. |
| White people, who accounted for 87% of the vote in 1992, made up 72% this year, rival polls indicated. They also suggested that Democrats were losing their grip on voting blocs such as working-class whites, and especially working-class white men. Obama lost every age group of white voters, including those aged 18 to 29, which he won by 10 percentage points in 2008. | White people, who accounted for 87% of the vote in 1992, made up 72% this year, rival polls indicated. They also suggested that Democrats were losing their grip on voting blocs such as working-class whites, and especially working-class white men. Obama lost every age group of white voters, including those aged 18 to 29, which he won by 10 percentage points in 2008. |
| In fact, Obama lost the white vote by a larger margin than in 2008 when he got 43%. On Tuesday, he got just 40%. | In fact, Obama lost the white vote by a larger margin than in 2008 when he got 43%. On Tuesday, he got just 40%. |
| Overall, 52% of voters said Obama was more in touch with people like them, compared with 44% for Romney. | Overall, 52% of voters said Obama was more in touch with people like them, compared with 44% for Romney. |
| Women | Women |
| Obama appears to have benefited from accusations that the Republicans were waging a "war on women", beating Romney with ease among women voters. | Obama appears to have benefited from accusations that the Republicans were waging a "war on women", beating Romney with ease among women voters. |
| According to exit polls, Obama won 54% of the women's vote nationally, against 45% for his challenger. In fact, Obama won the women's vote in almost every swing state: by 51 to 48 in Florida, 55 to 44 in New Hampshire, 52 to 47 in North Carolina, 53 to 46 in Virginia and 57 to 43 in Iowa. | According to exit polls, Obama won 54% of the women's vote nationally, against 45% for his challenger. In fact, Obama won the women's vote in almost every swing state: by 51 to 48 in Florida, 55 to 44 in New Hampshire, 52 to 47 in North Carolina, 53 to 46 in Virginia and 57 to 43 in Iowa. |
| Comments on rape and abortion by the Missouri Republican Todd Akin and the Indiana Republican Richard Mourdock also seem to have cost the Republicans the Senate races in both states. | Comments on rape and abortion by the Missouri Republican Todd Akin and the Indiana Republican Richard Mourdock also seem to have cost the Republicans the Senate races in both states. |
| On specific issues, abortion rights seem to have been the most influential in terms of voting, with a majority of women rallying behind Obama's pro-choice stance. | On specific issues, abortion rights seem to have been the most influential in terms of voting, with a majority of women rallying behind Obama's pro-choice stance. |
| As usual in US elections, women voted in larger numbers, making up 53% of the vote. | As usual in US elections, women voted in larger numbers, making up 53% of the vote. |
| Age | Age |
| In terms of age groups, the majority of all voters under 45 voted for Obama, with people under 30 backing the president in especially large numbers. People aged 45 and over tended to support Romney. | In terms of age groups, the majority of all voters under 45 voted for Obama, with people under 30 backing the president in especially large numbers. People aged 45 and over tended to support Romney. |
| Issues | Issues |
| Different issues dominated in different states. In Ohio, Obama was helped by a majority who approved of his bailout for the auto industry. In Florida, his pledge to allow young illegal immigrants to avoid deportation went down well with Hispanic voters. | Different issues dominated in different states. In Ohio, Obama was helped by a majority who approved of his bailout for the auto industry. In Florida, his pledge to allow young illegal immigrants to avoid deportation went down well with Hispanic voters. |
| Overall, only three in 10 voters said that most illegal immigrants working in the US should be deported, while nearly two-thirds said such people should be offered a chance to apply for the legal right to stay. | Overall, only three in 10 voters said that most illegal immigrants working in the US should be deported, while nearly two-thirds said such people should be offered a chance to apply for the legal right to stay. |
| But most voters – six in 10 – agreed the economy was their prime concern. Four in 10 voters said unemployment was their biggest worry, another four in 10 said it was rising prices. Romney was ahead slightly, or running even with Obama with voters who said the economy was the biggest issue – suggesting a notable failure by the Republican to capitalise on a weak economic record that might have sunk another incumbent. | But most voters – six in 10 – agreed the economy was their prime concern. Four in 10 voters said unemployment was their biggest worry, another four in 10 said it was rising prices. Romney was ahead slightly, or running even with Obama with voters who said the economy was the biggest issue – suggesting a notable failure by the Republican to capitalise on a weak economic record that might have sunk another incumbent. |
| A majority of voters agreed with Romney that "big government" interfered too much in the lives of ordinary people, while the 43% who said the government should do more to solve their problems favoured Obama by 81% to 17%. | A majority of voters agreed with Romney that "big government" interfered too much in the lives of ordinary people, while the 43% who said the government should do more to solve their problems favoured Obama by 81% to 17%. |
| Confirming pre-election speculation, Obama seems to have benefited from perceptions that he did a good job in handling hurricane Sandy. In early polls 42% of voters said the hurricane was an important factor in their vote and of them, 60% voted for Obama. | Confirming pre-election speculation, Obama seems to have benefited from perceptions that he did a good job in handling hurricane Sandy. In early polls 42% of voters said the hurricane was an important factor in their vote and of them, 60% voted for Obama. |
| Other big issues cited by voters were healthcare (18%) and the deficit (15%). Only 4% said foreign policy was the top issue. The economy was rated as not so good or poor by 77% of voters, according to an Associated Press exit poll. | Other big issues cited by voters were healthcare (18%) and the deficit (15%). Only 4% said foreign policy was the top issue. The economy was rated as not so good or poor by 77% of voters, according to an Associated Press exit poll. |
| Although Obama was said to have been helped by an improving economy, only about four in 10 voters said the economy was getting better, while three in 10 said it was getting worse. | Although Obama was said to have been helped by an improving economy, only about four in 10 voters said the economy was getting better, while three in 10 said it was getting worse. |
| Rejecting the Republican platform, six in 10 voters said taxes should be increased. Nearly half of voters said taxes should be increased on income over $250,000, as Obama has called for, while one in seven said taxes should be increased for all. Just over one-third said taxes should not be increased for anyone. More than six in 10 voters said taxes should not be raised to cut the budget deficit, the AP poll found. | Rejecting the Republican platform, six in 10 voters said taxes should be increased. Nearly half of voters said taxes should be increased on income over $250,000, as Obama has called for, while one in seven said taxes should be increased for all. Just over one-third said taxes should not be increased for anyone. More than six in 10 voters said taxes should not be raised to cut the budget deficit, the AP poll found. |
| Less than half of voters favoured repealing some or all of Obama's healthcare law, as proposed by Romney. A total of 43% preferred the healthcare law to be expanded or left as it is. | Less than half of voters favoured repealing some or all of Obama's healthcare law, as proposed by Romney. A total of 43% preferred the healthcare law to be expanded or left as it is. |
| Turnout | Turnout |
| Early figures from states where more than 90% of the vote had been counted suggested fewer people voted this year than four years ago, which set new turnout records. | Early figures from states where more than 90% of the vote had been counted suggested fewer people voted this year than four years ago, which set new turnout records. |
| In some states, the 2012 turnout appeared to be substantially lower than in 2008. In most states, turnout looked like being even lower than in 2004, a notably low-interest year when George Bush was re-elected. | In some states, the 2012 turnout appeared to be substantially lower than in 2008. In most states, turnout looked like being even lower than in 2004, a notably low-interest year when George Bush was re-elected. |
| Given all the speculation about a late Romney surge, one figure stood out: 9% of voters said they made up their mind with three days to go and, of them, most went for the president, by 51% to 44%. | Given all the speculation about a late Romney surge, one figure stood out: 9% of voters said they made up their mind with three days to go and, of them, most went for the president, by 51% to 44%. |
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