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| Barack Obama holds sway with African American, Latino and young voters | Barack Obama holds sway with African American, Latino and young voters |
| (5 months later) | |
| Barack Obama has promised to lead America for the next four years in the spirit of a "common destiny", but exit polls from Tuesday's election tell a different truth: that he was re-elected to the White House not by the united will of the people but by discrete elements of a historically divided electorate. | Barack Obama has promised to lead America for the next four years in the spirit of a "common destiny", but exit polls from Tuesday's election tell a different truth: that he was re-elected to the White House not by the united will of the people but by discrete elements of a historically divided electorate. |
| The coalition that Obama so successfully put together four years ago was very evident again on Tuesday as African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans and young voters turned out for him in droves. | The coalition that Obama so successfully put together four years ago was very evident again on Tuesday as African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans and young voters turned out for him in droves. |
| African Americans | African Americans |
| There was much speculation among pundits that enthusiasm among black Americans was down, compared with the exceptional scenes four years ago. Such pundits were spectacularly confounded, however, on Tuesday and in early voting, when African Americans proved to be just as dependable for Obama as in 2008, giving him 93% of their vote. | There was much speculation among pundits that enthusiasm among black Americans was down, compared with the exceptional scenes four years ago. Such pundits were spectacularly confounded, however, on Tuesday and in early voting, when African Americans proved to be just as dependable for Obama as in 2008, giving him 93% of their vote. |
| "There was no way that the president would have gotten to 270 electoral votes without the black vote, it was crucial," said Benjamin Jealous, president of civil-rights group the NAACP. Jealous put the huge black turnout partly down to an adverse reaction to the policies of Paul Ryan, the Republican vice-presidential candidate. | "There was no way that the president would have gotten to 270 electoral votes without the black vote, it was crucial," said Benjamin Jealous, president of civil-rights group the NAACP. Jealous put the huge black turnout partly down to an adverse reaction to the policies of Paul Ryan, the Republican vice-presidential candidate. |
| "His budget was so stark and terrifying for many African Americans and working people of all colours that it made the choice clear," Jealous said. | "His budget was so stark and terrifying for many African Americans and working people of all colours that it made the choice clear," Jealous said. |
| Jesse Jackson told the Guardian that attempts by Republican politicians around the US to impose voting restrictions over the past 18 months had also angered black voters. | Jesse Jackson told the Guardian that attempts by Republican politicians around the US to impose voting restrictions over the past 18 months had also angered black voters. |
| "The attempts to suppress the vote became a stimulus. It woke people up who might have been sleeping," he said. | "The attempts to suppress the vote became a stimulus. It woke people up who might have been sleeping," he said. |
| Hispanics | Hispanics |
| The exit polls tell a doubly important story when it comes to America's Latino population. First, their power is on the rise – they comprised 10% of the electorate this year, up from 9% in 2008, and that trajectory can only continue as some 600,000 eligible Hispanics reach voting age every year. | The exit polls tell a doubly important story when it comes to America's Latino population. First, their power is on the rise – they comprised 10% of the electorate this year, up from 9% in 2008, and that trajectory can only continue as some 600,000 eligible Hispanics reach voting age every year. |
| Second, Obama's support among Latinos has grown. In 2008, he had the backing of about 67%; that was up this time to 71%. | Second, Obama's support among Latinos has grown. In 2008, he had the backing of about 67%; that was up this time to 71%. |
| That may be a reflection of the late fillip that the president gave Hispanics this June, when he granted a two-year deferral of deportation for young undocumented Latinos. But it also has much to do with the hostile stance that Mitt Romney took on immigration during the primary race for the Republican nomination, when he talked about "self-deportation". | That may be a reflection of the late fillip that the president gave Hispanics this June, when he granted a two-year deferral of deportation for young undocumented Latinos. But it also has much to do with the hostile stance that Mitt Romney took on immigration during the primary race for the Republican nomination, when he talked about "self-deportation". |
| Frank Sharry, director of the immigration reform group America's Voice, pointed out that Latinos were a sizeable presence in four of the seven key battleground states – Colorado, Florida, Nevada and Virginia. | Frank Sharry, director of the immigration reform group America's Voice, pointed out that Latinos were a sizeable presence in four of the seven key battleground states – Colorado, Florida, Nevada and Virginia. |
| "The common theme in the growing Latino electorate in these states was that they don't like to be disrespected by Republicans calling them 'illegals' and talking about 'self-deportation'," he said. | "The common theme in the growing Latino electorate in these states was that they don't like to be disrespected by Republicans calling them 'illegals' and talking about 'self-deportation'," he said. |
| Asian Americans | Asian Americans |
| Asian Americans delivered another whopping vote of confidence to Obama, siding with him by 74% to 25%. That 49-point margin was up dramatically from 27 points in 2008. | Asian Americans delivered another whopping vote of confidence to Obama, siding with him by 74% to 25%. That 49-point margin was up dramatically from 27 points in 2008. |
| This demographic is currently relatively negligible, with only 3% of voters describing themselves as Asian American in exit polls. But this is definitely one to watch – Asian Americans make up almost 6% of the US population and are the fastest-growing race group; they recently overtook Hispanics in terms of the number of immigrants entering the country every year. | This demographic is currently relatively negligible, with only 3% of voters describing themselves as Asian American in exit polls. But this is definitely one to watch – Asian Americans make up almost 6% of the US population and are the fastest-growing race group; they recently overtook Hispanics in terms of the number of immigrants entering the country every year. |
| Young voters | Young voters |
| In 2008, young voters and students were a critical force within the coalition that put Obama in the White House. On that occasion, two thirds of 18- to 29-year-olds backed him; that slipped a little this year, to 60%. | In 2008, young voters and students were a critical force within the coalition that put Obama in the White House. On that occasion, two thirds of 18- to 29-year-olds backed him; that slipped a little this year, to 60%. |
| That decline in youth enthusiasm may be partly a sign that young Americans are particularly anxious about whether or not they'll find a job when they leave college. It may also have something to do with the fact that Obama waged a less exuberant, more sobre campaign this year and therefore had less appeal. | That decline in youth enthusiasm may be partly a sign that young Americans are particularly anxious about whether or not they'll find a job when they leave college. It may also have something to do with the fact that Obama waged a less exuberant, more sobre campaign this year and therefore had less appeal. |
| But he still triumphed with young voters in comparison to Romney. Melissa Miller, an associated professor of political science at Bowling Green state university in northern Ohio, said it was notable that Obama and his running mate, Joe Biden, made many more visits to Ohio campuses this year. | But he still triumphed with young voters in comparison to Romney. Melissa Miller, an associated professor of political science at Bowling Green state university in northern Ohio, said it was notable that Obama and his running mate, Joe Biden, made many more visits to Ohio campuses this year. |
| Obama and Biden also heavily attacked Romney for his advice to young people to "borrow money if you have to from your parents". | Obama and Biden also heavily attacked Romney for his advice to young people to "borrow money if you have to from your parents". |
| "That became a big laugh line in the president's stump speech, and it hurt Romney," Miller said. | "That became a big laugh line in the president's stump speech, and it hurt Romney," Miller said. |
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