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"Like converging thunderstorms, two distinct trends collided Tuesday night to power the Republican Party to the largest midterm gains for either party since 1938."
Election Anaysis: Obama base stays home, white voters defect
Seeded on Wed Nov 3, 2010 1:23 PM EDT
Article Source: Yahoo! News- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (15)
The portions of the electorate that remained loyal to President Obama and Democrats - particularly minority voters and young people - did not show up in anywhere near the numbers they did in 2008.
And among the voters who did show up, Democratic candidates suffered crippling defections among white voters, particularly independents, seniors, and those without a college education, according to the national network exit poll of House elections.
- 3 votes
#1 - Wed Nov 3, 2010 1:23 PM EDTYoung people, who cast 18 percent of the ballots in 2008, dropped to just 11 percent. That was a slightly larger falloff than is typical in midterm elections. Likewise, the falloff between the minority share of the vote in 2008 and Tuesday night was the largest decline between a presidential and the subsequent midterm election in at least the past two decades. Two years ago, minorities cast 26 percent of all ballots in the presidential election; this year that number fell to 22 percent. Both groups largely stuck with Democrats - but their impact was severely diluted by their declining turnout.
- 3 votes
#2 - Wed Nov 3, 2010 1:30 PM EDT
Ah,...the young...perseverance is not their strong suit. They thought electing Obama was the final word. Maybe not quite as much change as they thought there would be?
- 8 votes
#3 - Wed Nov 3, 2010 1:47 PM EDTThe largest gains for a midterm vote since 1938 should say a lot!
- 5 votes
The young typically do not vote, not many anyway. They came out in 2008 to help make history. No history to be made this time, at least not for Dems.
- 2 votes
#4 - Wed Nov 3, 2010 2:20 PM EDTamong the voters who did show up, Democratic candidates suffered crippling defections among white voters, particularly independents, seniors, and those without a college education, according to the national network exit poll of House elections.
All we have been hearing for the past 2 years is how "whites" in this country are ALL "racist" and just can not stand to have a "Black" man in the White House.
Yet now we hear that they were counting on these votes?
Well when you alienate those who vote for you with your rhetoric, you shouldn't be surprised when things like this happen.
- 3 votes
#6 - Wed Nov 3, 2010 3:19 PM EDTThe article seemed to be attempting to indicate that lesser educated individuals went Republican. The point the author seemed to miss is those with less education are faring the worst in this economy so of course they voted in a way so as to try to help themselves. The current strategy isn't working. They are smart enough to realize that and to take action. Kudos to them.
- 1 vote
The point the author seemed to miss is those with less education are faring the worst in this economy
Good point!
- 2 votes
Well, now the Repubs have the wheel. lets see how they drive it....
- 2 votes
#7 - Wed Nov 3, 2010 3:28 PM EDTActually, they have a third of the wheel pretty solidly. They can't completely change course with that much control, but at least they can stop the movement in the wrong direction.
- 3 votes
Actually, they have a third of the wheel pretty solidly. They can't completely change course with that much control, but at least they can stop the movement in the wrong direction.
Yes, that's true-- they don't have control over the gov't-- while they have the House, the Democrats still have the Senate-- and the Presidency!
- 2 votes
Krishna,
To carry the analogy further, if they can't force the car back onto the right road, they do have control of the brakes and can, if needed, stop it completely. The Health Care Law won't last long unless the House Appropriations Committee votes to fund it. What's the price to fund it? Maybe changing it to the way it should read.
- 1 vote
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