Presidential Election

[bjl584]

With the elections less than a week away what are everyone's thoughts on who you think will win?

The polls are neck and neck and the recent hurricane makes accurate polling almost impossible. I just hope that there is a clear cut winner and it doesn't end up a fiasco like in 2000.

Finally, to all members that are citizens of the USA, I encourage you to go out and vote. Voting is a great privilege that we enjoy so go exercise your rights and vote, for whoever it may be for.

[disneysteve]

As a fellow site moderator, let me remind people to simply answer the question asked. Please don't turn this thread into personal attacks or anything else that results in shutting it down.

Brian asked a simple question. Let's give a simple answer. Who do you think will win?

I've already voted by mail so I'd done my civic duty.

[bjl584]

Brian asked a simple question. Let's give a simple answer. Who do you think will win?.

Agreed. Let's not turn this into a political debate. Save that for another thread.

So Steve, who do you think will win? You don't have to say who you hope will win or who you voted for. I'd just like to know who you think will win.

[disneysteve]

I'd just like to know who you think will win.

Obama

[bjl584]

Obama

I guess I should give my answer since I asked you.

I think Romney is going to pull it off and win. Unseating an incumbent is a tall order, but in recent history Clinton did it, so did Reagan.

My reasoning is that Obama hasn't been able to get 50% or more support in any of the polls. That's bad news for an incumbent. Also, the Republican party seems to be more enthusiastic this time around. Much more than they were in 2008. I realize that anything can happen in the next week, but as the polls stand at this very moment I have to give the edge to the challenger.

[SnoopyCool]

I can honestly answer that I don't know. I know who I hope for, but not sure how this will turn out.

[kork13]

I actually voted about 3-4 weeks ago... my state was actually very prompt about getting the absentee ballots sent out, which I really appreciate -- military members as a whole have long been disenfranchised (in effect) by states that drag their feet with absentee ballots... Mail going to/from overseas bases is often outrageously slow, and absentee ballots frequently don't get returned in time to be counted. I have way too many friends who in years past never even received their ballots until 1-3 Nov (some actually arrived AFTER election day ) Bottom line, I totally agree -- VOTE, PEOPLE!! It's a right that was earned by our forebears in decades and centuries past, so take advantage of it!

As for the original question, I'm honestly not sure. I think I'm giving a slight advantage to Obama as the incumbent. That said, I do think Romney still has a definite possibility of winning. It's all going to just come down to election day itself... And as Brian mentioned, I only hope that whatever the result, it is a clear victory. The lunacy of recounts and contested voting procedures like we saw with Bush/Gore in 2000 was embarrassing for us as a nation, and I think our society is looked down upon enough by the world community as it is.

Simply stating my personal view (mods, I'm happy to edit this out in order to keep the peace if required, just let me know).... I do rather hope that Romney pulls it off -- I haven't been overly impressed with Obama's leadership overall. Some good has certainly been accomplished, and it goes to his credit (and that of many others). But I just personally disagree with some of his policies, and especially with his methods of implementing them.

[disneysteve]

Obama hasn't been able to get 50% or more support in any of the polls.

I only hope that whatever the result, it is a clear victory.

Actually, I've seen polls recently that show neither candidate having a majority. Unless the actual vote varies a lot from the polls, which is certainly possible, I think a clear victory is unlikely. Our next president may be elected without winning a majority of the votes which is kind of a disturbing concept no matter who that winner is.

[GREENBACK]

I think Romney will win. Obama doesn't seem to have that enthusiastic young base he had the last time around and I wonder how many will show up at the polls for him this time. Lots of folks didn't see the "hope and change" they wanted regardless of the reason. With that said, it definitely looks to be very close.

[GrimJack]

I voted; I voted for Obama and that is who I think/hope will win.

I read FiveThirtyEight named after the # of Electoral votes (half+1 of which are needed to win with the college). I have mixed feelings about the E.C. - on the one hand it does not seem very democratic/representative republic-y - on the other hand, over 50% of the population of the US lives in just 9 states.

Right now, it appears that this election might be reduced to Ohio and Florida for the presidential race.

I know that some people think that 538.com is weighted towards Obama since the blogger is a liberal so I offer realclearpolitics as a poll aggregater for the more conservatively inclined.

[Ramose]

As a Non-American I think Obama will win. He seems to be doing a reasonable job and is likeable. I think the recent disaster helped his cause. Of course, I don't talk to many Americans so I really don't have much idea.