If Mitt is such a poor candidate, why does everyone that counts say it will be a very close election

[CK_John]

Is it because it always is a close election, or is it something else. Does anything they say or do, count before mid Oct?

What say you?

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Because the economy continues to be a catastrophe

And Romney is not obviously insane.

People are desperate for change - even if they may not be thrilled with Romney, they might think it's worth a shot.

[cwydro]

14. Yes

You said what I was thinking, and posted downthread.

People ARE desperate for change.

Obama has not given us any change.

[DonCoquixote]

15. change

half of whioch was hampered by the Democratic congress, aka DINOS. Obama did change in that he did stop the rush to kill programs like social security and medicare that would be dead as doornails under McCain. He did invest in a company like GM, saving it from being sold to the Chinese.

But also, let's not forget, Mitt is the candidate, but he is NOT the one people are voting to control the country, that battle was won in 2010, where congress, using Grover Norquist, openly says "we are NOT looking for a leader, just a pen." I did a whole thread on that, and many were surprised to see the GOP act that brazen.

[Jamaal510]

20. How's this for no change:

http://whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com/

P.S. You mentioned not voting for Obama again (which is indirectly a vote for Romney), so I hope you're prepared to have him as president...a guy who doesn't even have a health care plan, a guy who wants to raise taxes on everyone but the top income earners, continue austerity, outsource jobs, and continue the wars.

[JI7]

2. the media wants ratings and people to tune in , but this can influence voters also

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. because of the voting machines

[Old Codger]

4. If they said

it would be a runaway for Obama no one would watch much any more, they cannot have that so will do anything to keep interest up so you will tune in.

[loyalsister]

55. Also....

It motivates voters, which is not such a bad thing

[onehandle]

5. Because the racist GOP base woke up and is determined to vote this November.

See 2010.

The youth better tear themselves away from reality TV this year and vote.

[Zalatix]

27. The youth will be denied access to the polls.

[Bluenorthwest]

46. Not here they won't.

I can promise you that in my State, no one is denied access to election participation. We don't do 'polling places' nor do we 'check in' with folks at a desk.

[aquart]

31. Really? There are that many white men?

[baldguy]

34. +1

[Retrograde]

6. Electoral college

It doesn't matter who wins the popular vote in November - it's who gets a majority of the electoral votes. That's why the GOP has been so active in getting voter-obstruction laws in place in states like Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania where there are a lot of electoral votes to be had and the populace is considered on the fence. Remember 2000?

[silverweb]

7. Several factors:

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"](1) Red States' restrictions on voting that will disproportionately affect Democratic voters.

(2) ReTHUG misinformation and intimidation tactics around Election Day targeting Democratic voters.

(3) Election fraud, i.e., voting machines, and "lost" mail ballots and overseas military ballots (now favoring Democrats).

(4) The need to avoid cockiness and/or complacency when looking at the President's poll numbers.

(5) The realization that the President will be powerless to achieve many of our goals if we don't also give him a majority Senate and better odds in the House.

[font size=3](6) The urgent necessity for Democrats to win this election by such overwhelming numbers that NO amount of cheating or tampering by reTHUGs and their stooges will tilt the outcome in their favor.[/font]

[font color="purple" font size=6 face="Comic Sans"]GObama! [/font]




[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]And on that note, I have to get back to work. Later, guys!

[Orangepeel]

8. Everybody would say it will be close even if they don't think so

The campaign that's ahead will say it will be close because they don't want supporters to be complacent and because they still want to raise money.

The campaign that's behind will say it will be close because they don't want supporters to be discouraged and because they still want to raise money.

The media will say it will be close because they need ratings. The talking heads will convince themselves it's close because that's where the stories are.

It may actually be close. There is a lot of polarization in the country, many people have their minds made up no matter who the candidates are, and "independents" are often fickle.

But you can't go by what everyone is saying because they would all say that anyway.

[Marie Marie]

9. Because as much as they don't like Mittens,

they dislike Obama even more.

[MADem]

10. Hmmmm....everyone that COUNTS, eh? Hope they aren't counting the votes!

It is a money-maker for lots of people--most specifically, media news outlets (who can charge more for their commercial air time)--if an election is close.

The candidates and their PACS are encouraged to pour tons of money into media buys, which puts a lot of people to work and makes money-money-money for the networks.

Any corporate media interest with an eye on the bottom line wants to create a sense of a horse race, even if the race is between the Old Gray Mare and Secretariat.

[MotorCityMan]

11. Four words; The Fix Is In

The ReThugs have been doing everything they can to make it harder to vote all over the nation. They'll steal it if they can by any means necessary. Already did in '00 and '04.

[MrSlayer]

12. Because we are a nation of fools.

Couple that with citizens united, voter id and other dirty tricks and it will be close.

[cwydro]

13. Because for many of us

there is a great disappointment in the man we helped elect.

I cannot imagine voting Republican, but I will not vote for Obama again.

Neither will my parents and a great many others I know. The oil spill debacle, the bailout of Wall Street, his ambiguousness on gay marriage, the failure to enforce environmental regulations, his coziness with Boehner et al.

No. Not anymore. I am done with him.

Very sad. The change we can believe in (hah!) is the change that is coming.

[DonCoquixote]

16. Mitt Romney thanks you

Because he knows that the GOP will close ranks around someone, while many Demos take their ball and go home when they are offended.

[lib2DaBone]

21. NDAA..... The Patriot Act... The Catfood Commission... Geithner..Bernake, Summers...

None of it makes any sense.. why would he sign on to this?

[dogknob]

24. NDAA passed by a veto-proof, bipartisan majority

[Atman]

22. Ignorance will help Rmoney.

"The bail out of Wall Street" was Bush's doing.

[aquart]

30. Damn! He wasn't the Messiah. Told you so.

But pardon me for being aghast at a response that wouldn't impress me from a spoiled, breath-holding two-year-old.

You didn't get what you want so who cares what happens to the Supreme Court which will cripple us for a century?

Of all the selfish, short-sighted.....this is the kind of response I would expect from a Republican mind.

YOU GET OFF YOUR ASS AND YOU VOTE DEMOCRATIC!

[FarLeftFist]

17. Only the polls are close, but the electoral map is leaning HEAVILY in favor of Obama.

[LadyHawkAZ]

18. Because Obama's still black.

And he isn't getting any whiter. And everyone knows you can't properly hate women, gays, minorities or poor people if you're black. And if you don't properly hate women, gays, minorities and poor people, you're un-American. Faux News said so!

And unfortunately, these people are allowed to vote.

[Nye Bevan]

38. So how did Obama win big in 2008?

He was just as black back then.

[LadyHawkAZ]

54. He didn't win by a whopping huge margin of the popular vote

in 2008, either.

[Quantess]

19. For what it's worth...

I've been in Sweden for a couple of years now, so the only US media I see anymore is a little here and there on the internet.

The perspective here is that Obama is expected to win. But that could be just wishful thinking on the swedish media's part...?

[mfcorey1]

23. They lie!!

[dmosh42]

25. "Rigged" is the key word for this issue!

[estiparanoic]

26. You actually HAVE to ask this question?

Romney will get any where from 46-51 million votes just because he is a Pub and add to that ODS fueled by the RW propaganda outlets a right leaning Democratic President who does not seem to care a whole lot about liberal and progressive issues and routinely throws us under the bus and President Romney could be a very real possibility.

[Quantess]

28. What is ODS?

[estiparanoic]

29. ODS = Obama Derangement Syndrome

[Quantess]

32. aha. Thanks.

Welcome to DU!

[Scuba]

33. Diebold/Sequoia/ESS

[Arkansas Granny]

35. For many people, it will be a vote against Obama, not a vote for Romney.

They want to defeat Obama at all costs, even if they don't necessarily like Romney.

[AmazingSchnitzel]

45. Yup...

2nd term elections are often a referendum on the sitting President and are less about the opposition candidate.

[DCBob]

53. Perhaps, but that is not a winning strategy.

If that is the attitude many of those voters wont show up. If they dont like either candidate then many will lose interest.

[DCBob]

36. Faux newz and other RW media can turn a turd into a treasure.

plus the fact there is about 40% of the electorate will vote R no matter what.

[Nye Bevan]

37. Many people vote against the incumbent when the economy is bad.

The subtlety of "it would have been even worse with the Republican as President" is lost on them.

[Snotcicles]

39. There has to be the illusion of a close race, for the election theft to go unchallenged. nt

[sofa king]

40. Because everyone that counts was paid for saying that.

Talking heads get paid for their appearances on television. They get invited back when they say it's going to be close, because that raises viewership, brings in more advertising money, and gives the Jerry Springer shows that masquerade as "news" something to waste a day on.

Those who call it like I see it--in the bag barring something truly evil being perpetrated by the GOP (which I fully expect them to try)--simply aren't welcome.

The truth is not profitable, and it does not allow for the opportunity to get close enough to steal the election.

So it is not told.

[CanonRay]

41. A couple of million Mormons on phone banks and in the streets

plus untold billions in money and ads. Add it up, it spells trouble for anyone, even against a dufus like Rmoney.

[99Forever]

42. Why?

How about because the last President who PROMISED ME HOPE AND CHANGE and I supported, worked to get elected, and voted for has ignored my plight since he got my vote and took office?

(And yes, it IS very personal to me.)

[LynneSin]

43. Because it's election season and close elections means better ratings

next question

[Kaleva]

44. There are only about 8 states that'll decide the election.

[Bluenorthwest]

47. everyone that counts? What?

I think you mean 'everyone that counts a financial stake in the idea of the election as a close race'.
And not only a financial stake...no side can afford to claim an election is anything other than close, as if they do, many of their own will disengage and that will keep turn out low. No one in electoral politics will say 'this is a cake walk' as simply saying that makes it no longer a cake walk.

[archiemo]

48. The Republicans could run Mickey Mouse and the election would be close.

It doesn't matter one bit who they put up against President Obama. A certain percentage of the population would pull the lever for anything with "R" by their name.

[JoePhilly]

49. Got to keep it close or lots of 24/7 pundits lose their jobs.

And those are the only jobs they care about.

[GeorgeGist]

50. Part of it is due to people who believe ...

"everyone that counts".

[mulsh]

51. Exactly who comprises"everyone that counts"?

Most of the people I've heard saying that are republican party shills and unemployable has been talking heads cluttering up right wing "think tanks".

[Ship of Fools]

52. Ratings.