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Rove: Sifting the Numbers for a Winner
wsj.com ^ | Carl Rove

Posted on 11/03/2012 7:37:16 PM PDT by Iam1ru1-2

A crucial element: the mix of Democrats and Republicans who show up this election.

It comes down to numbers. And in the final days of this presidential race, from polling data to early voting, they favor Mitt Romney.

He maintains a small but persistent polling edge. As of yesterday afternoon, there had been 31 national surveys in the previous seven days. Mr. Romney led in 19, President Obama in seven, and five were tied. Mr. Romney averaged 48.4%; Mr. Obama, 47.2%. The GOP challenger was at or above 50% in 10 polls, Mr. Obama in none.

The number that may matter the most is Mr. Obama's 47.2% share. As the incumbent, he's likely to find that number going into Election Day is a percentage point or so below what he gets.

For example, in 2004 President George W. Bush had 49% in the final Gallup likely-voter track; he received 50.7% on Election Day. In 1996, President Clinton was at 48% in the last Gallup; he got 49.2% at the polls. And in 1992, President George H.W. Bush was at 37% in the closing Gallup; he collected 37.5% in the balloting.

Enlarge Image image image Associated Press

One potentially dispositive question is what mix of Republicans and Democrats will show up this election. On Friday last week, Gallup hinted at the partisan makeup of the 2012 electorate with a small chart buried at the end of its daily tracking report. Based on all its October polling, Gallup suggested that this year's turnout might be 36% Republican to 35% Democratic, compared with 39% Democratic and 29% Republican in 2008, and 39% Republican and 37% Democratic in 2004. If accurate, this would be real trouble for Mr. Obama, since Mr. Romney has consistently led among independents in most October surveys.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: rove

1 posted on 11/03/2012 7:37:16 PM PDT by Iam1ru1-2
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To: Iam1ru1-2
Rove is a Border retard.

(Just sayin')

2 posted on 11/03/2012 7:43:49 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: Iam1ru1-2

Rove has become a laughing stock as he explains why both candidates will win.


3 posted on 11/03/2012 7:46:12 PM PDT by pabianice (washington, dc ..)
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To: Paladin2

I think Rove knows more about polling / elections than anyone else in America. He’s brilliant. Very few candidates could win re-election in 2004 being down with independents, and Bush ended up winning because Rove helped him max out his base to an unprecedented degree.


4 posted on 11/03/2012 7:56:31 PM PDT by Arec Barrwin
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To: Arec Barrwin

Rove is still a Border retard, like W and Jeb.


5 posted on 11/03/2012 7:59:18 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: Arec Barrwin

I agree with you, Arec. Instead of cheap personal shots made early in the thread, I’d rather hear a discussion of the posted article. I think Rove makes very cogent points about the race. All indications are that there is no enthusiasm for Obama in Ohio. Take, for example, the event in Ohio last night. The crowd size was pathetic. He ran an almost completely negative campaign in Ohio, and Romney has shown Ohio that he’s not the person that Obama portrays him to be. Ohio is showing Obama that they don’t like negative campaigners. All indications are that Obama will come out of early voting with a decidedly smaller advantage than 2008. Turnout by Romney supporters on election day should carry the day and easily erase the small early-voting advantage.


6 posted on 11/03/2012 8:30:18 PM PDT by AaronInCarolina
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To: Iam1ru1-2

Great, ask the guy who won two elections by a total of 12 votes!


7 posted on 11/03/2012 8:32:04 PM PDT by InvisibleChurch (the mature Christian is almost impossible to offend)
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To: Iam1ru1-2

Rove, you magnificent bastard.


8 posted on 11/03/2012 9:35:21 PM PDT by Senator Goldwater
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To: pabianice

And on January 20 they will swear in Mitt Romney and Joe Biden.


9 posted on 11/03/2012 9:39:08 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (cat dog, cat dog, alone in the world is a little cat dog)
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To: Iam1ru1-2
Good analysis by Rove. I hope the 6 point spread predicted by Gallup holds on election day. So far, so good. Two more days and a wake up. .
10 posted on 11/03/2012 9:44:30 PM PDT by Art in Idaho (Conservatism is the only hope for Western Civilization.)
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To: AaronInCarolina
I generally try to avoid personal cheap shots but - Carl Rove is toilet licking scum. I have more respect for obummer than I do for Rove and would even go so far as to say that Rove and his ilk are more dangerous than ocommie because they hide their global ‘progressivism’ behind a much more subtle mask.
11 posted on 11/03/2012 9:59:39 PM PDT by ciaocotc
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To: Arec Barrwin
You are right Rove is a very smart man, but he lately is a very smart man with an agenda that has nothing to do with conservatives.

When you lose good will with your base it is very hard for people to trust you again. Dick Morris comes to mind.

12 posted on 11/04/2012 4:45:52 AM PST by Lady Heron
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To: Senator Goldwater

Rove is an enemy of the state.


13 posted on 11/04/2012 4:48:32 AM PST by bmwcyle (45% to 47% of American voters are stupid)
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To: Arec Barrwin

I remember Rove saying in 2004 when he saw those exit polls favoring Kerry that he felt sick to his stomach. If he is as smart as he’s supposed to be he would have known on the spot they were bogus.


14 posted on 11/04/2012 4:49:26 AM PST by AU72
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To: bmwcyle

“Rove is an enemy of the state.”

Certainly my state. I live in Maryland.

Whatever your thoughts on Rove, his Crossroads PAC is spending big money doing ad buys where they are needed most, and have the greatest sting, and for that, Rove is indeed a magnificent bastard.


15 posted on 11/04/2012 8:40:41 AM PST by Senator Goldwater
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