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Obama’s Margin of Victory is Now Bigger than Both of George W. Bush’s Wins
As of now, President Obama’s popular margin of victory is bigger than both of George W. Bush’s election wins in 2000 and 2004.
According to the numbers compiled by David Wasserman of the Cook Political Report, President Obama now leads Mitt Romney 50.81%-47.48% in the popular vote. President Obama’s popular vote margin is now bigger than both of the last two successful Republican presidential elections. In 2000, George W. Bush lost the popular vote to Al Gore, 48.38%-47.87%. In 2004, George W. Bush defeated John Kerry in the popular vote, 50.73%-48.27%. Obama is currently posting the biggest margin of victory since Bill Clinton beat Bob Dole, 49.24%-40.71% in 1996.
What was supposed to be a nail biter of an election turned out to be only the 13th closest election in US history. Obama’s margin of victory was bigger than four other modern era (since 1952) winning candidates. George W. Bush (2000 & 2004), Jimmy Carter (1976), and Richard Nixon (1968) all had smaller margins of victory than Obama did.
This means that the bluster coming from the right about President Obama not having a mandate is nothing more than political hot air. Due to the fact that many of the yet to be counted ballots are in New York and California, President Obama’s margin of victory is expected to grow.
While Mitt Romney’s 47% popular vote percentage is a juicy bit of political karma, the real story here is the political staying power and popularity of Barack Obama.
This president won reelection by a sizable margin despite a still recovering economy and an opposition party that was determined to obstruct his agenda. One can only imagine the size and scope of Obama’s reelection victory if the economy had been a bit better, or Republicans had put “country first.”
If you really want an answer to the question of President Obama’s potential mandate, pay attention to the deeds — not the words — of his political opponents. Judging from their post-election behavior, Congressional Republicans have been knocked back on their heels by Obama’s victory. They now find themselves trapped between two very different and opposing strategies. Republicans are trying to sound a moderate tone by backing away from the Norquist tax pledge, while at the same time opposing raising any new taxes.
As the nation draws closer to the fiscal cliff, this will be an impossible position to maintain. Republicans are posturing on no new tax hikes because they have to, or their base will go into full rebellion. The reality is that taxes will go up whether Republicans agree to it or not. Either they will send a deal to the president that includes a tax hike on the wealthy, or taxes will go up when the nation tumbles off the fiscal cliff.
Obama not only achieved a larger political victory than expected, but he is parlaying that momentum into a potential series of victories that could define the course of the country and his presidential legacy.
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43 Responses to Obama’s Margin of Victory is Now Bigger than Both of George W. Bush’s Wins
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djchefron
Nov. 26th, 2012 at 5:40 pm
Ann”My love you picked the wrong 47%”
Mittens”Oh the irony of it all”
Stevie Nichts
Nov. 26th, 2012 at 6:28 pm
In what world does a 3-million edge out of 60 million votes become a ‘mandate’?
handdrummer
Nov. 26th, 2012 at 7:26 pm
The world where an even smaller margin of victory by Bush 2 was hailed as a mandate… Can’t have it both ways…
djchefron
Nov. 26th, 2012 at 7:40 pm
I guess the same world that gave bush a mandate with some shady vote counting led by that quisling ken blackwell in Ohio
DobieTracker
Nov. 26th, 2012 at 11:00 pm
Stevie: please disregard the “i approve” vote I just accidentally gave you and please add one “do NOT approve” vote to the count.
Thanks.
mjh
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 12:51 am
In what world does a 3-million edge out of 60 million votes become a ‘mandate’?
In the world of . . . Republicans:
“I am now predicting a 330 vote Electoral landslide (for Mitt Romney)” — Larry Kudlow
“Electorally it won’t even be close … I predict a Romney victory by 100 to 120 Electoral votes” — Wayne Allen Root
“I’m projecting Minnesota to go for Romney in a 321-217 landslide” — George Will
“We’re going to win by a landslide … my own view is that Romney is going to carry 325 Electoral votes” — Dick Morris
.
Sandra
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 12:07 pm
And to think these eegits who believed their own fantasy arthimetic still have jobs that pays them beyond their pay grade.
The people have spoken and it’s time the R’thugs esp. McTurtle take note. All his machinations and obstructionism failed, time to man up and accept your fate Turtle guy, you lost. Had they cooperated and helped to fix the mess they and their President created, the Country would be in much better shape right now, people would be working and paying taxes, purchasing goods and services instead of collecting unemployment insurance.
RON QUANDT
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 1:51 pm
Remember Bush always talked about fuzzy math!; Republicans still use it.
Paul Browne
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 2:06 am
In the Real World! As opposed to Romney-Kolob-Fantasy World! Lmao!
Jeff
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 3:50 pm
In what world does a minority party in the senate get to set the agenda? welcome to the real world, where 3 million out of 60 million equals a 5% margin of victory. this election wasn’t even close. get over it and join us in the real world. we have a couhtry to fix.
mjh
Nov. 26th, 2012 at 6:56 pm
This means that the bluster coming from the right about President Obama not having a mandate is nothing more than political hot air.
Jason, you call it political hot air. I call it political brown fecal matter.
President Obama now leads Mitt Romney 50.81%-47.48% in the popular vote.
Attention rightwingnut neoKKKon teabaggers: THIS is what a mandate looks like — not a 547 popular vote margin and 7-2 Supreme Court decision [2000] or winning by 2% [2004] . . .
.
mary bowman
Nov. 26th, 2012 at 7:25 pm
It just keeps getting better and better! Now be braver than FDR! Help the labor unions be the voice for the American Worker. It will be harder than FDR’s era, but it has to be done. Give corporations small tax breaks for going union, larger breaks only after organized labor is a protection every employee can expect. Corporations should fear government, not expect the government of the people to just roll over.
Ronin
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 10:56 am
While it is good to see the American people energized to re-elect the best possible candidate, this problem of corporations vs. workers must end. We must come to an amicable resolution where both groups walk away satisfied. Not wildly overjoyed by dominating the opponent. A good deal is a deal where neither party gets everything they desire, but get enough of their core concerns addressed that promotes further cooperation. Gridlock occurs where no common ground can be found due to the stubborn disregard by Republicans for the will of the people. Nor can Democrats entertain outlandish demands that severely compromise the ability of the companies they work for to visualize profit. The I win, you lose mentality is symptom of such gridlock. What can we concede in the spirit of cooperation? This question must be asked of BOTH parties, not just Democrats or Republicans. The us against them mentality cripples any attempt at progress. Rev.Al Sharpton said: “This election is not about Obama, it’s about your mama” it should have read and your kids. Steps toward this end? Close overseas military bases in countries with standing armies. Pentagon spending on these bases exceeds 250 billion dollars annually. Increase retirement age to 70. Combine existing social programs under 1 head and adhere to a single budget to accomplish existing goals and eliminate waste. End programs that are outdated or ineffective and push for worker enhanced education to ensure and increase worker VALUE. Reward companies with 80-100 percent American employment with tax breaks. When corporations can recognize value,jobs have less likelihood of being eliminated. The balanced,fair approach will require sacrifice on both sides, not just the little person looking up.
A Walkaway
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Excuse me, but I’m not going to compromise my chance at a future or put my family at risk so some goddamned rich man can make a few more pennies. That’s what has been happening for almost a decade now.
The rich can do without their damned profit, if it means that people suffer or die.
Thanks to the decisions made by the elites, I can’t say that I won’t compromise my health, because they’ve already wrecked that. I also am not going to try to do something I know I physically can’t, just so that they can have that extra latte.
The pendulum has been pushed so far to the right that it’s about to come off its hook. It needs to swing really hard to the “left” just to come back to neutral. That means regulation, and that very strict – and the rich are going to have to get used to more reasonable incomes for once.
The democrats haven’t compromised, they’ve bent over backwards to cater to the Republicans and the rich in trying to be “nice”. It’s about time they grow a spine.
I like some of your proposals, but the fact is, corporations are going to be hurt and bad, if things return to a neutral state. They’re just too used to 30-50% profit margins (e.g. Big Oil and far worse – Big Drugs). They NEED to go through that pain – just as an addict has to go through the pains of withdrawal to get to the other side.
Ronin
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 6:57 pm
No cooperation dooms you to re-litigating policy ad infinitum. That’s not progress, it’s a time waster.
Did you ever think we would have to revisit Roe vs. Wade? I didn’t, but here we are…
Cam
Nov. 26th, 2012 at 7:43 pm
Yeah.
Bigger than ‘both,’ because to make it bigger than the one where Bush won you have to add that negative percentage to the one where Bush lost.
Never mind he picked up at least 5 million fewer actual votes than last time…and 33 fewer electoral votes…and 2 fewer states…
majii
Nov. 26th, 2012 at 11:40 pm
You don’t understand basic math, do you? Fewer republicans voted in 2012 than did in 2008, but neither what you wrote, nor this information about how many republicans voted in 2012 changes the fact that President Obama won the election. Also, too, the results of each election stand on its own merits and don’t depend upon what happened in the past. It it what it is: President Obama won, and he won by over 4 million votes, and counting. I’m glad you posted here because it validates what happened before the last election–that some conservatives do deny reality and reject things with which they don’t agree.
mjh
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 12:57 am
You don’t understand basic math, do you?
Ringtwingnuts seldom do: they continue to believe the 25% — or fewer — that were ardent supporters fo Dumbya Bush at the end constituted a majority . . .
.
Sabyen91
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 12:46 am
You lost. Get over it.
Jim Acero
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 4:02 am
Shiva (Moderator)
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 8:56 am
LOL!
Is that your best neiner neiner neiner?
Melinda Goldman
Nov. 26th, 2012 at 7:51 pm
Mandate ….Go ahead say it…Just let it roll of your tea bagger tongue’s go ahead you know you can….
David Hinson
Nov. 26th, 2012 at 8:26 pm
to be fair to ol’ mittwit, he did say 47 this 47 that and he was not concerned with any but the 3% and getting their vote. but the SOB could not sell it, and we did not buy it.
but this world will not be safe until people like rupert murdock and karl rove has met the reaper.
Bernie
Nov. 26th, 2012 at 8:31 pm
I seem to remember some people saying Bush 2 had a mandate, even after losing the popular vote.
Sabyen91
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 12:48 am
“You asked, do I feel free. Let me put it to you this way: I earned capital in the campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it. It is my style. That’s what happened in the — after the 2000 election, I earned some capital. I’ve earned capital in this election — and I’m going to spend it for what I told the people I’d spend it on, which is — you’ve heard the agenda: Social Security and tax reform, moving this economy forward, education, fighting and winning the war on terror.” -George Bush, Jr.
mjh
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 1:19 am
“I earned capital in the campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it. It is my style.”
Yeah, I remember when Dumbya said that.
I also remember thinking: as any first-year business student knows, you don’t spend capital, you invest it.
You’d think a Harvard MBA like Bush would know that. Then again, this could partly explain the 2008 crash and recession . . .
.
Sandra
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 12:19 pm
Yale. I also remember Bush claiming that he was the decider. The Country and the world is still recovering from his ‘decider’ actions. History will not be kind to this man, he was a buffoon, lacking basic intelligence not to menton his massacre of the English language. Thank Goodness, America now has a President who articulates the English language and is capable of constructive thoughts and sentences.
D. W. Skinner
Nov. 26th, 2012 at 11:26 pm
Hope Ann is still crying…. the idea of that gives me such immense joy.
Robert Kimes
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 3:11 am
how many republicans does it take to change a light bulb? nobody knows; they always call an electrician.
Kp
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 8:38 am
Wonder who the dems. Will blame for our problems in 4 years. I will be fine, but the rest of you will pay the price. Enjoy that Obamacare!!
Shiva (Moderator)
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 8:54 am
Yes, we will enjoy Obama care as it lowers the deficit and cost of being well. You are just the whiner that has nothing to whine about so he makes things up.
www.huffingtonpost.com/20...
Move along
Kp
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 8:49 am
Robert Kimes, you are correct… We would hire an electrician, because we want to keep people employed.
Shiva (Moderator)
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 9:01 am
Isnt that hilarious? We? Lets face it, you are way out of tune with your anti American representatives. You better start attending more Rush lockstep meetings.
mjh
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
“We would hire an electrician, because we want to keep people employed.”
“We would hire an electrician, because . . .”
- we don’t know how; we don’t understand the science behind it
- change a light bulb? That’s what servants are for!
- we’ll hire an electrician, but none of those damned union ones . . .
Kp, you could have substituted any of the above in your response, and it would have fit right in.
.
labman57
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 9:46 am
These results clearly demonstrate that Congressional Republicans attained “political capital” in both presidential elections. (It’s the new math.)
They routinely spent it via obstructionist tactics and pushing their socially regressive policies during Obama’s first term, and many appear prepared for a repeat performance this time around.
clarence swinney
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 11:06 am
Health Care Premium costs compared to USA
Australia –45%
Japan–41%
France –33%
UK—22%
New Zealand—19%
Hong Kong—16%
Germany—15%
Canada–13%
Mexico—12%
Many below 10%
Sandra
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
Oh Canada, home and native land…..I give my heart to thee.
I’m alive today thanks to our Universal Health Care, had I been American, I would be long dead. Every American deserves decent, affordable health care, regardless of socio-economic status. It’s right and just and humane. Noone should die because of lack of health services because they can’t afford to see a Doctor and/or receive medical care. It’s an affront to God and to humanity.
A Walkaway
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Die, or have their health deteriorate because they couldn’t get care for minor things that grew major. Deteriorate because the for-profit doctors didn’t want to deal with a poor person and just told him or her “it’s all in your head” or “There’s nothing wrong with you, GET BACK TO WORK!”.
As you probably know, there are a number of cases here in the US where because people couldn’t pay, they died – and the Republicans got the laws changed so they could LET them die.
James Threadgill
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 11:16 am
Mitt was right that portion of the US has become dependent on give aways. Unfortunately, he blamed the wrong portion. It is the hyper-wealthy, the fossil fuels, and the pharmaceutical companies who feed most heavily from the public trough.
regressivewatch.org
Rixar13
Nov. 28th, 2012 at 7:37 pm
Great comments and I must admit that I have peace of mind again after President Obama’s victory.. :-)
The Savage
Dec. 6th, 2012 at 2:47 pm
We may have lost the White House, but we won’t let you leftists ruin our country.
Right now we are on the fast track to bankruptcy, with exploding entitlement programs and a stagnant economy. You cannot raise tax rates enough to cover the deficit, and since entitlements are growing faster than the economy you never will. Add to that an aging population and the entitlements become even more unsustainable.
Be as triumphalist as you will, but eventually the math will catch up with us.
So yes, Obama won, and congratulations to him. But in 5 or 10 years when the entitlements go broke, the checks stop coming, and the economy takes an even steeper nosedive, I’m going to sit back and laugh at you as you wonder what happened….
Shiva (Moderator)
Dec. 6th, 2012 at 6:04 pm
“but we won’t let you leftists ruin our country. ”
The country is made up of people. All of which you would sell out in a second. You might want to look closer at the economy, its not stagnant. Its slow because the GOP will provide no hope for it
Its not the left you need to watch out for, its the tea party thugs that would just as soon put your parents and your babies out on the doorstep to die
JustMeAgain
Dec. 7th, 2012 at 1:49 am
Naturally it’s bigger – because Bush never won either in 2000 or 2004. He stole both elections. When will the US media face this fact already? #Reality.