STUDY GUIDE|^227SUMMARY
The 2012 elections preserved the status quo, with a Repub-
lican House, a Democratic Senate, and the re-election of
President Obama. With the nation divided on many ques-
tions and a lackluster national economy, the presidential
campaigns focused on a small number of swing states, in-
cluding Ohio, Florida, and Virginia. President Obama’s vic-
tory owed much to his campaign’s extensive mobilization
eff orts and its success at portraying Republican Mitt Rom-
ney as out of touch with the concerns of average Americans.
PRACTICE QUIZ QUESTIONS
- What is the most accurate statement about the role of
economic conditions in the 2012 election?
a) Looking across the entire nation, economic condi-
tions did not strongly favor either candidate.
b) The Obama campaign’s mobilization eff orts off set
the loss of support from a weak economy.
c) Mitt Romney’s campaign avoided talking about the
economy.
d) Economic conditions did not matter because most
Americans based their vote on other issues.
e) The Obama campaign convinced voters that
Republican Senate leaders were to blame for the
poor economy.
12. What role did the question of expanding marriage
rights to gays and lesbians play in the 2012 election?
a) Surveys showed that President Obama gained
many votes because of his continued opposition to
allowing gays to marry.
b) Neither campaign emphasized this issue.
c) Mitt Romney did not talk about this issue because
of his Mormon religious beliefs.
d) In contrast to 2010, more voters saw the issue as
important.
e) Both candidates supported a constitutional
amendment to allow gays and lesbians to marry.
13. Why was congressional turnover so low in 2012?
a) Incumbents used the redistricting process to build
safe districts.
b) Spending on campaign ads by outside groups
favored House and Senate incumbents.
c) Neither party could fi nd enough qualifi ed challeng-
ers to run in House and Senate races.
d) Too many House members and senators lost
primary elections.
e) Most vulnerable House members and senators had
already lost in 2008 and 2010.
UNDERSTANDING THE 2012 ELECTIONS
E Analyze the issues and outcomes in the 2012 elections. Pages 215–22
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Museum of the Moving Image, "The Living Room Candidate:
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Chicago Press, 1991.SUGGESTED READING