2008 vs. 2012 Presidential Election Results
November 7, 2012
Updated November 12, 2012
Obama 2008 vs. Obama 2012: Popular Vote
States in Which Obama Won Popular
Vote in 2008
States in Which Obama Won Popular
Vote in 2012*
Percent Popular Vote
50%
100%
*With the exception of Florida, popular vote results based on exit polling on 11/7.
Source: National Journal 2012 Election Results; CNN 2012 Election Center.
2
Performance of Obama Campaign:
States Won in 2012
Comparing Obama’s 2008 and 2012 Popular Vote Results
Change in Percentage of Vote Won By Obama in 2008 vs. 2012*
FL MA MN OH VA CO DC DE IA ME NH CT NV OR PA WA CA MI NM WI IL
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-2
-2
-2
-3
-3
-3
-3
-3
-4
-4
-4
-4
-5
Quick Take
In the industrial Midwest, voters overwhelmingly favored Obama’s 2009
auto industry bailout. Even so, Obama is the first president since the
19th century to win with a lower percentage of the vote in his secondterm victory than in his first.
*With the exception of Florida, popular vote results based on exit polling on 11/7.
Source: National Journal 2012 Election Results; CNN 2012 Election Center.
3
Performance of Obama Campaign:
States Lost in 2012
Comparing Obama’s 2008 and 2012 Popular Vote Results
Change in Percentage of Vote Won By Obama in 2008 vs. 2012*
*Popular vote results based on exit polling on 11/7.
Source: National Journal 2012 Election Results; CNN 2012 Election Center.
4
McCain 2008 vs. Romney 2012: Popular Vote
States in Which McCain Won Popular
Vote in 2008
States in Which Romney Won Popular
Vote in 2012*
Percent Popular Vote
50%
100%
*With the exception of Florida, popular vote results based on exit polling on 11/7.
Source: National Journal 2012 Election Results; CNN 2012 Election Center.
5
Performance of Romney Campaign:
States Won in 2012
Comparing McCain’s 2008 and Romney’s 2012 Popular Vote Results
Change in Percentage of Vote Won By GOP Candidate in 2008 vs. 2012*
*Popular vote results based on exit polling on 11/7.
Source: National Journal 2012 Election Results; CNN 2012 Election Center.
6
Performance of Romney Campaign:
States Lost in 2012
Comparing McCain’s 2008 and Romney’s 2012 Popular Vote Results
Change in Percentage of Vote Won By GOP Candidate in 2008 vs. 2012*
5
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
MI CA IL WI CT NV OR PA DE NH WA CO FL IA MA MN NM OH VA DC HI ME RI
Quick Take
While Romney commanded large majorities of white male voters in
much of the country, many Republicans will think they could have won
the White House with someone more conservative than Mitt Romney.
*With the exception of Florida, popular vote results based on exit polling on 11/7.
Source: National Journal 2012 Election Results; CNN 2012 Election Center.
7