Wars Depression months before election there was an economic crisis that could have turned into a worldwide Great Depression Democrats had really clear advantages and they won as expected in 2008 The turnout was higher among young people and minorities helped Democrats Turnout of eligible voters who actually vote Expectations that things will get better with this young energetic president When Obama came in to office economy was on verge of collapse He had a democratic House and Senate united government United Government that party can accomplish pretty much whatever it wants Obamacare Financial and banking reform Lily ledbetter act first law signed against discrimination in workplace against women Stimulation package helped auto industry on verge of collapse First year in office things got worse very quickly took a while for his new policies to kick in 10 unemployment stock market decline housing market terrible After a while the policies started working jobs created stocks bounced back there was recovery Coming into 2012 election Obama is very popular among Democrats no opposition in primaries No one in your party slamming Obama so he could just get ready easily advantage So they could raise money make ads set up headquarters On Republican side 5 10 candidates fighting against each other because they want to win Republican primary electorate most are very conservative Romney moderately conservative in minority of his party Then the rest of Republican candidates are very conservative Romney is frontrunner among Republicans but not a strong one You already know Obama but some believe that Obama s campaign Romney claims to be a successful businessman and you want someone successful but we ll show you who he really is what kind of business His company would find small companies not doing well and buy them out Save some but others just let them go bankrupt and close them down 7 companies saved 3 companies died good But according to democratic commercials he wasn t a venture capitalist but a vulture capitalist Also he isn t ordinary he s super rich Challenger at a Convention 1 make their first major decision who will I choose as my running mate a Romney chose Paul Ryan conservative from swing state 2 Introduce candidate for first time in big national way a Romney talked about his family which softened him as sincere talked about night his father died and about his wife with cancer also went after Obama in past hundred years every incumbent president who stood for election has been able to say you were better off than you were 4 years 2 exceptions Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama Convention basically 3 4 day advertisement for parties Romney 2 point bounce a bit below average Obama 4 point bounce about average