AEI Election Watch 2012: How Close Is This Race, Really?


September 13, 2012 | American Enterprise Institute


In the wake of the Republican and Democratic conventions, the release of a new jobs report and growing troubles in the Middle East, AEI scholars took the stage for the first Election Watch event of the general election season. While explaining the latest findings of the polls, moderator Karlyn Bowman noted that most voters want the Democratic Party to control the U.S. Congress, which is a new development.

Michael Barone then claimed that while Mitt Romney has a narrow window for victory in the U.S. Electoral College, he has more opportunity for success than many political analysts would admit. Norm Ornstein countered Barone’s assertions by emphasizing that Romney’s missteps in responding to the recent murder of four Americans in Libya indicates that his campaign is still trying to find traction in a theme.

EPPC Senior Fellow Henry Olsen concluded the discussion by stating that 2012 will not be a repeat of 2010, contrary to the hopes of Republicans. Olsen, Ornstein and Barone ultimately agreed that Paul Ryan faces the challenge of ensuring his Wisconsin House of Representatives re-election while not appearing to resign himself to a losing vice presidential bid.

Watch full video of this event below:

Click here for more information on this event.


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