WHY MITT ROMNEY LOST ELECTIONS

So near yet so far. This aptly fits for Romney, who was tipped to upset Obamas plan for a second stint at the White House. The 2012 presidential elections had been tipped to be the closest election in the US history. Many believed that Mitt Romney would win the race, since the Americans, in general, were disillusioned with the way Obama had handled the government during the past 4 years. However, the results defied logic and at the end, Obama won the race very easily. So, what went wrong with the Romney campaign. There are many reasons why Mitt lost the elections. There will be a lot of introspection within the Republican camp on this loss. However, I have watched the election campaign from the sidelines, as a neutral observer and have keenly followed the various presidential debates and campaigns of both the candidates. Some of the reasons leading to Romneys defeat are: 1. Romney did not take into consideration the fast changing demography of US. According
to exit polls, the electorate was 72 percent white -- a group Obama lost with 40 percent to Romney's 58 percent -- and 13 percent African-American, a bloc that gave the president 93 percent of its votes. Obama won Hispanic voters, who comprised 10 percent of the electorate, 71 percent to 27 percent for Romney. The minority voters voted overwhelmingly in favor of Obama, not because they were happy with his performance, but because they felt insecure of Romneys hardline immigration rhetoric. His threat of self-deportation of illegal immigrants who had been living in US for several years, fired back at him and cost him invaluable votes. When asked, why the economic message of Romney was not resonating with the Latinos who faced disproportionate levels of poverty, unemployment and foreclosure during Obamas presidency, Senator Rubio, a prominent Republican and a Cuban-American replied, Its very hard to make the economic argument to people who think you want to deport their grandmother. 2. Romney was not very clear on how he would deal with the economic crisis and the budget deficit. President Obama had broadly explained what he wanted to do, if re-elected. Romney was very evasive in his replies during the Presidential debate and did not give any details how he would be better than Obama. He promised to create 12 million new jobs, but could not articulate how he would fulfill the promise. He promised to help small businesses, but fell short of taxing the rich. Obama exploited this position several times during the presidential debates. Obama also made it sound during the presidential debate and elsewhere during his campaign, that Romney did not want to increase the taxes on the ultra-rich, since he himself was one of them. 3. Women, who constituted 55% of voters, were upset with the anti-abortion and same-sex marriage stance of Romney. Romney could just manage 43% of the women votes compared to 55% by Obama, an important 12 point lead. 4. Young people, between the age group of 18 and 29 years, who constituted 18% of the voters, favored Obama 53% against 46% to Romney, giving Obama a vital 7 point lead. This is the group which is more concerned with un-employment levels in US and sees Obamas anti-outsourcing stance as well as measures to create more manufacturing jobs, a more

practical solution compared to Romneys promise of 12 million jobs with no specific plans on how to achieve it. 5. And finally, came the super storm Sandy that destroyed the east coast and broke Romneys momentum. President Obama, as the commander-in-chief, swung swiftly into action and made available all resources to ameliorate the sufferings of those devastated by the storm. And see, who praises Obama for the magnificent leadership shown during the crisis none other than Republican Governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, who, in full public glare of the media, hugged Obama and thanked him. And remember, this happens just one day before the election closes.