President Barack Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden were re-elected Tuesday night, defeating Republican challenger Mitt Romney and his vice-presidential running mate Rep. Paul Ryan.
NBC News called the presidential election for Obama around 11:15 EST. The president sent a message on Twitter at 10:14 saying simply, "This happened because of you. Thank you."
The Obama campaign won the most expensive presidential race ever, with both parties raising about $2.6 billion. The race was filled with negative campaigning on both sides, from President Obama attacking Romney’s business experience with Bain Capital to Romney lambasting Obama’s handling of the economy.
The race tightened during the final months of the campaign, with gaffes and surges from both candidates. After a weak performance after the Republican Convention, Romney surged following Obama’s listless performance after the first presidential debate. Nevertheless, the president cemented a lead in battleground states heading into Tuesday’s election.
Neither candidate devoted much time to campaigning in Missouri, which has leaned heavily to the right in the past several presidential cycles. Romney campaigned in Kirkwood several months ago, and he was heavily favored to take Missouri's 10 electoral votes—which he did.
The economy was a key issue for many voters in the state as well as jobs and Obama's push for universal health care. The campaign, while not close in Missouri, was seen as close by some voters nationally.
"I'm here to hopefully have a change in the country. The economy. No jobs. Tax increases on things that aren't necessary. Just the whole mood of the economy," Jack Cusamano of Town and Country said. "I just want to see a leader do what they say they're going to do and help the small people succeed."
Will Edgar, 18, was undecided until this morning when he decided jobs might tilt him toward Romney. The issue that tilted him toward Mitt Romney concerns Edgar's choice of future career: underwater welding.
"I'm going to school to be an underwater welder and Mitt's all for starting all sorts of drilling, particularly off the East Coast," he said, adding that Obama has sought to restrict it. So, when did he decide? "When I woke up this morning."
Rick Luebcke of Chesterfield, a lifelong Republican, voted for Obama.
"While I spent my career with a major automobile company and have supported the Republican Party, I just don't think that their opinion of how the country should be run helps the people of the country in which they live," he said.
Cole West, of Arnold, told Patch he was pro-Obama because of the president's stance on health care.
"My 4-year-old has a heart condition, and Obama's plan would eliminate the pre-existing condition clause so my daughter Ava could get health insurance," West said.
What information do you have that indicates that the Dow Jones will be at 6000 by the end of December? What data or facts are you in possession of that points to the unemployment rate being 10% by the end of the year? Simply spouting off additional tin-foil hat delusions doesn't support your point. Give us all some background on your insight...
Every time I ask him a direct question, he seems to change subjects or point to something abstract and tell me that it's all I "need to know..."
mike k. I am not sure if you realize this, but the Prez without tight control of all branches of govt, doesn't have the power to wreck the economy on his own, unless he decides to fight an unfunded costly war or two. Though it's not entirely a free market in the US with our penchant for doling out corporate welfare and protecting monopolie, the stock market is not controlled by president. Nor are gas prices controlled by the president. It is amusing yet annoying that people that worship free markets are often clueless on how they work.
Dey be luvin dem handouts now, the Romnesiacs. On a serious note, I think Romney's idea to cap deductions is interesting.. And I would even agree with extending the Bush tax cuts - if it means that the 'tax break' is treated like the deduction really is. And apply the AMT to folks like Mitt if the rules fit.
So yeah, I am somewhat disappointed in those first two years, because of the reality that he played them like a conservative instead of using the power that he had.
Number of times the GOP candidate has won the popular vote: One Legitimate stat.
- Are you insane or did you accidentally post as a reply to my post? You popped in as if you and I were having some conversation. I have no idea who you are, we were in no conversation that you appear to be picking up from and, in fact, I have never before this post, ever visited any MO Patch's.
That to me is why the youth (most of the youths voted for Obama, stictly because they don't identify with the Republican party (whom hasn't really reached out to the youth vote, I might add) didn't really relate to Romeny. You can rationalize that by the way the youth today want to be rappers or performers because they see their heros and idols making all this money and they think that is the only way to achieve their American dream. There was just the same amount of negative ads on both sides, so one side blaming the others doesn't answer the real reason one why people voted the way they voted. It surely isn't because everyone wants a handout or they are racist, or the media skewing the results. Easy to point to those as a factors, but reality of it is Obama was a very popular guy in his demographic.
I guess the Republican campaign layoffs hit him hard. Welcome to the 47%, li'l mike.
One thing for sure this country can only continue its downward decline this Regime will bleed this country to a third world status. If Obama, Holder, Pelosi, Reid are the best and brightest the Voters can elect that tells the story as to why we are a Welfare Country. All those that voted I hope you will all enjoy Socialism and loss of your Constitutional freedoms. As they saying goes "You Can't Fix Stupid" and over 50% of the population of this country are free loaders they are also STUPID. It's a sad day for our Veterans who lost there lives or who are permanently disabled fighting to keep the USA a land of the Free. I hope all of you OBAMA lovers will enjoy your Freedom loss, living under Socialism and either accepting being a Muslim or Death to you for being an Infidel. Me I will fight to my death to protect my Freedom along with Millions of others.
Not sure how you will explain the TSA honoring all that freedom you talk so grandly about being somehow part of Obama's oppressive socialist regime. Then again, you've probably not had your 4yo daughter felt up by a TSA agent in the name of 'protecting' your freedom.
If the GOP will cooperate with the President, who was reelected by a large electoral college majority and by a popular vote majority, and pass a jobs bill, coupled with a return to the Clinton-era tax rates, closing all the tax loopholes so that Mitt Romney and Donald Trump aren't paying lower tax rates than St. Louis County cops and principals and firefighters, and we trim spending we don't need, the country will be roaring back again. No deficit, as we saw under Clinton, we can pay the debt down, and we'll be on the right track.
Closed above 14,000 yesterday. Of course Republicans will credit Obama with the good news. And their good fortunes. http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/markets/2013/01/19/stocks-rise-sharply-obamas-first-term/1843067/