President Barack Obama on Nov 6, 2012 was returned to a second term by a diverse electorate that had posed particular challenge to Republican candidate Mitt Romney. Obama-Biden ticket won a total of 303 electoral college votes, Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan ticket won 206 electoral college votes, with Florida's 29 electoral college votes being still undecided. Obama captured 50% popular votes, Romney 48.4%, while the other three candidates--Gary Johnson of Libertarian Party, Jill Stein of Green Party and Virgil Goode of Constitution Party--sharing the remaining 1.6% of popular vote. President Obama won the election by putting a redoubtable alliance of voter blocs of youths, minorities and women. For example, Hispanics, who were about 10% of the voters who have cast their ballots this year, overwhelmingly supported Obama (71%). Women voters were 54% of total electorate, and they have voted significantly for Obama (55%).
Democrats enlarged their majority in Senate with the election of like-minded Independents. Democrats will have 53 Senators (currently they have the same number of Senators), Republicans will have 45 Senators (down from 47 Senators), while 2 Independents are most likely to caucus with Democratic majority.
The House of Representatives will remain firmly under control of Republicans. 193 Democrats, 233 Republicans, and 9 not yet decided.
In Texas, Republicans held their strong sway and stranglehold over the bicameral legislature in this election too. GOP-95 and Democrats-55 this time vs. 102 to 48 in the existing House of Representative. TX Senate retains the same balance with 19 Republicans and 12 Democrats.
Another salient victory for the liberal groups in this election cycle was that Maine and Maryland became the first states to approve Gay Marriage by popular votes.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
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