~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~32~RS~)
Nick Robinson
Political editor
What are the lessons for UK politicians from Obama's win?
So Barack Obama has been re-elected as US president. What are the lessons from the campaign and result for British politicians?
1. Incumbents can still win
Since the crash of 2008 10 European governments have lost office - by my last count. Obama has shown that incumbents can be re- elected. Some comfort for David Cameron.
2. Negative campaigns work
Four years ago Obama promised to run a positive campaign. This time around his team ran a brutal personal assault on Romney for being rich, uncaring and out of touch (sound familiar?). It worked. One senior Labour figure told me he feared that the Tories would learn this lesson.
3. Minorities matter
Republicans told themselves that Hispanics shared their values and their belief in hard work and family. Nevertheless they overwhelmingly voted Democrat. The Tories say the same about Asian voters and have about as much success with this increasingly important voter group.
4. Women matter
Obama lost the support of white men but got away with it thanks, in part, to greater support amongst women. The so-called gender gap used to be the Tories' secret weapon. Labour are now trying to turn it back on them
5. Money and ads can't buy an election
Cash helps in any election but multi-millionaire Mitt Romney has shown that no amount of it can compensate for an uncharismatic candidate, a divided party and a message which veers from pandering to the party base one minute then appealing to moderates the next.
Syria army storms rebel-held town
Teutonic Texans
Getting the hump
Clocking out
'It comes rumbling'
Art in the shadow of Hitler
The Culture Show
Comment number 257.
All for All8th November 2012 - 23:43
Andy@5
"popularity contest…"
For "fat kid" donut-votes?
No, a contest - against a tide of misinformation - for the votes of the disadvantaged, those for whom conscience affordable, and this with rational interest in Equal Partnership (democracy) and survival
Need: to share capital & rewards, spread confidence, provide stable platform for growth of real value, not sporadic scattered bubbles
Link to this (Comment number 257)
Comment number 256.
fleche_dor8th November 2012 - 23:13
#3. Minorities matter
Aren't US minorities a greater proportion of the overall population than in the UK?
Is the US's constitutional approach to immigration rather different to the UK's? Our former colony, but immigrants became part of the "dream".
UK attitudes to immigration are as Empire ruler, not subject. Some hanker for this superiority, ignoring smaller minority interests here.
Link to this (Comment number 256)
Comment number 255.
ashcroftmillions20108th November 2012 - 22:06
5.
Who says you cannot buy election wins? There are recent examples of UK marginal constituencies being won over by plenty of cash to support campaigns.
Would Cameron be PM now, without a bankrolled marginals campaign?
Link to this (Comment number 255)
Comment number 254.
meninwhitecoats8th November 2012 - 20:50
Saga
On R4 they were discussing the possibility our economies may be going the way of Japan in terms of growth and asking whether it was such a bad thing.
Managing expectations may be difficult -selling the message no more boom and bust ain't easy, certainly did not work for Gordon.
PS Could never get the image of Woody out of my mind when Romney took to the podium.
Link to this (Comment number 254)
Comment number 253.
sagamix8th November 2012 - 20:38
coats:
:- )
Ah got you, yes. The hat made me think Bush. Never did see Romney in a ten gallon (one of his better points).
Just thinking (re the USA - and indeed the UK - future point), that 'graceful management of decline' ambition is much derided but it actually has a lot going for it, I'd say.
It's certainly one of my key personal goals.
Link to this (Comment number 253)
Comments 5 of 257