There are, of course, other choices, one can vote for a third-party candidate and one can jump parties. These two choices are relatively trivial in terms of numbers compared to the first choice above but they too tend to favor the candidate with momentum.
This is the genius of the two-party system, it makes for a clear yes or no choice. In a parliamentary system such as seen in most European countries, there are viable third choices. But our two-party system forces the voter down a narrow road with but one fork. This has certain advantages for the voter, the majority can make clear its pleasure or more likely its displeasure with the governing party and that generates an active opposition which, contrary to handwringing "moderates," is a very healthy condition for a democracy.
It has, alas, certain advantages for the governing elitists, it permits them to cynically craft a bare majority through demagoguery. In other words, if you can cobble together enough voting blocs by appealing to their selfish interests as the Democrats are so artful at contriving, one can obtain power. The voter is limited to an overall approval-disapproval vote and so collateral issues do not get litigated but are largely subsumed in American national elections. This strategy works optimally when there is no overriding issue preoccupying the electorate.
This is especially true in an election environment in which we find ourselves today. There is but one overriding issue in this election, the economy and jobs. All other considerations fall by the wayside by comparison. This works greatly to the advantage of the challenger and greatly to the disadvantage of an incumbent when the economic numbers are as dismal as they are today.
So when the voter goes into the booth who is not already made his choice to stay home, he must decide between approving or disapproving those dismal economic numbers. Obama has tried many stratagems to divert the voter from this choice. He has tried to demagogue Romney, he has tried to frighten women about reproductive rights, he has tried to inflame class warfare, and tonight, no doubt, he will try to paint Romney as a warmonger. Each of these tactics has failed because they are up against strategic realities. The strategic reality is the approval or disapproval of the economy and to offer free birth control pills by comparison is a trivial, indeed pitiful, tactic.
I doubt whether Obama will have much success tonight painting Romney as a warmonger and for the same reasons.
I believe the strategical impulse supports Romney's campaign and Dick Morris has at least the general trend right.
