Understanding the 2008 Elections Presented by: Patrick Lanne • Partner

The Political Environment...

Presidential Job Approval Republican Party Image Heading into the election, Republicans faced a very difficult political environment with all the key national barometers in the dumps. National 20% 75% Right Direction / Wrong Track Presidential Job Approval 27% 71% Approve / Disapprove Generic Ballot 36% 48% Republican / Democrat Republican Party Image 32% 48% Favorable / Unfavorable Data From National Exit Polls

It was a difficult Fall for the McCain campaign It was a difficult Fall for the McCain campaign. Obama’s image improved, McCain’s stayed flat, and Palin’s fell. Barack Obama: Image John McCain: Image Sarah Palin: Image 56% 52% 48% 46% 47% 43% 44% 44% 42% 38% 39% 39% 36% 36% 37% 38% 35% 33% Pos Neg Pos Neg Pos Neg Pos Neg Pos Neg Pos Neg Pos Neg Pos Neg Pos Neg Sept. 22 Oct. 05 Oct. 20 Sept. 22 Oct. 05 Oct. 20 Sept. 22 Oct. 05 Oct. 20 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 Data from a NBC/WSJ national poll of 1,159 Registered Voters conducted October 17-20, 2008

And all data pointed to an Obama win. If the election for President and Vice President were held today, for whom would you vote if the candidates were: John McCain and Sarah Palin, Republicans ...and... Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Democrats 54% 55% 52% 53% 50% 51% 51% 46% 43% 43% 43% 44% 44% 42% JM BO JM BO JM BO JM BO JM BO JM BO JM BO Rasmussen Reuters FOX NBC/WSJ Gallup CBS ABC/WP All data is from the week leading up to the 2008 election

The Results

Early voting spiked and provided Obama with a comfortable margin. Percent Voting Early 2000 2004 56% 54% 50% 49% 49% 50% 45% 43% 33% 24% 18% 18% Bush Gore Bush Gore Bush Kerry Bush Kerry McCain Obama McCain Obama Bush Kerry Bush Kerry 2000 2002 2004 2008 Voted Election Voted Election Early Day Early Day

Leaving few late deciders for a McCain comeback. Now, some people decide early in a campaign how they will vote. Others make their decisions just before the election. When would you say you made your FINAL decision on which candidate you were going to vote for in the election for President? 67% 59% 51% 52% 36% 28% 17% 17% 9% 6% 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 Election day/Last few days before the election Before September

While younger voters and first time voters remained consistent with previous elections… 18% 17% 17% 11% 11% 9% 18-29 First yrs old Time Voters 2000 2004 2008

…the racial make-up of the electorate is changing. % Of African American & Hispanic Voters 22% 19% 17% 15% 12% 13% 13% 10% AA/Hisp. AA/Hisp. AA/Hisp. AA/Hisp. AA/Hisp. AA/Hisp. AA/Hisp. AA/Hisp. 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 Data from CNN Exit Polls

* National Exit Poll Data Obama’s advantages with these four groups were essential to his big victory. 95% 66% 67% 69% 32% 31% 30% 4% 18-29 African- Hispanics First yrs old Americans Time Voters McCain Obama * National Exit Poll Data

Presidential Vote Among African Americans African Americans turned out in record numbers, making Obama their nearly unanimous choice. Presidential Vote Among African Americans -81% -77% -91% 95% 90% 88% 11% 9% 4% Bush Gore Bush Kerry McCain Obama African Americans African Americans African Americans (10%) (11%) (13%) 2000 2004 2008 Data from CNN Exit Polls

Obama’s increased margins among AA’s helped flip Southeastern states. Presidential Vote Among African Americans Virginia North Carolina Florida 95% 96% 92% 87% 85% 86% 14% 12% 13% 8% 5% 4% G.W. J.K. J.M. B.O. G.W. J.K. J.M. B.O. G.W. J.K. J.M. B.O. Afr. Am. Afr. Am. Afr. Am. Afr. Am. Afr. Am. Afr. Am. (21%) (20%) (26%) (23%) (12%) (13%) 2004 2008 2004 2008 2004 2008 Data from CNN Exit Polls

Two-thirds of Hispanics supported Obama. Presidential Vote Among Hispanics -27% -9% -34% 66% 62% 53% 44% 35% 32% Bush Gore Bush Kerry McCain Obama Hispanics Hispanics Hispanics (7%) (6%) (8%) 2000 2004 2008 Data from CNN Exit Polls

His margins made a huge difference in the Southwest. Presidential Vote Among Hispanics Colorado New Mexico Nevada 76% 68% 69% 60% 60% 56% 44% 38% 39% 30% 30% 22% G.W. J.K. J.M. B.O. G.W. J.K. J.M. B.O. G.W. J.K. J.M. B.O. Hispanic Hispanic Hispanic Hispanic Hispanic Hispanic (8%) (19%) (32%) (41%) (10%) (15%) 2004 2008 2004 2008 2004 2008 Data from CNN Exit Polls

As did two-thirds of young voters. Presidential Vote Among 18-29 Year Olds -2% -9% -34% 66% 54% 48% 46% 45% 32% Bush Gore Bush Kerry McCain Obama 18-29 Years 18-29 Years 18-29 Years (17%) (17%) (18%) 2000 2004 2008 Data from CNN Exit Polls

Presidential Vote Among 18-29 Year Olds The Southeast – Obama significantly increased his margins among young voters. Presidential Vote Among 18-29 Year Olds Virginia North Carolina Florida 74% 60% 61% 58% 56% 54% 46% 43% 41% 39% 37% 26% G.W. J.K. J.M. B.O. G.W. J.K. J.M. B.O. G.W. J.K. J.M. B.O. 18-29 Yrs 18-29 Yrs 18-29 Yrs 18-29 Yrs 18-29 Yrs 18-29 Yrs (17%) (21%) (14%) (18%) (17%) (15%) 2004 2008 2004 2008 2004 2008 Data from CNN Exit Polls

And, Obama overwhelmingly won with first-time voters. Presidential Vote Among First-Time Voters -9% -7% -37% 68% 52% 53% 46% 43% 31% Bush Gore Bush Kerry McCain Obama First-Time Voters First-Time Voters First-Time Voters (9%) (11%) (11%) 2000 2004 2008 Data from CNN Exit Polls

GOP erosion complicated the electoral math. Party Identification Figures POS’ National Merge Data 43% 43% 44% 41% DEM 41% +7% Dem GOP 38% 38% 40% 37% 37% 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 NBC/WSJ National Data 47% 45% 43% 43% 40% +10% Dem DEM GOP 36% 35% 38% 34% 35% March Late October March March November 2004 2006 2007 2008 2008

The Democratic advantage at the polls was unprecedented in recent years. Party ID -2% -3% -5% -4% -0- -7% 40% 38% 39% 39% 37% 37% 37% 35% 35% 35% 35% 32% GOP DEM GOP DEM GOP DEM GOP DEM GOP DEM GOP DEM 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 Data from CNN Exit Polls

There were big swings in the battleground states. 2004 Result 2008 Party ID (GOP-Dem) CO Bush Obama 11 1 FL 4 -3 IN 14 5 IA Kerry 2 -1 MI -5 -12 MN -4 MO McCain -6 MT 7 NV -8 NH -2 NM -7 -16 NC -11 OH PA VA WV -18 -14 WI 3

2004 Pres. Results 2008 Pres. Results Red states turned blue. 2004 Pres. Results 2008 Pres. Results

Both sides consolidated their partisans.

Obama won the middle by a very wide margin. Among Independents Among Moderates 60% 54% 52% 48% 49% 44% 45% 39% Ind Ind Mod Mod Bush/McCain Kerry/Obama * National Exit Poll Data

Looking Forward

A new “progressive” era A new “progressive” era? Not exactly… this is still a center-right country.

Let’s remember what’s this race was really about.

Looking to 2010…pay attention to Obama’s approval rating. President's Party Performance Job Approval Avg. Loss 60+ 0 50-59 -12 Under 50 -41 Presidential Job Approval vs. Midterm Results Since 1962 (Gallup/POS Polls & National Journal) 74% 66% 63% 63% 57% 58% 52% 49% 47% 46% 43% 42% 5 5 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 2006 1998 2002 -4 -8 -8 -12 -15 -26 -30 -47 -48 -52

For more information, please contact us at: Patrick Lanne Partner • patrick@pos.org For more information, please contact us at: 8 Thistle Rd Gansevoort, NY 12831 Phone: (518) 581-7319 • Cell: (703) 785-7627