This is actually looking somewhat similar to the 1980 "final week"

[Politico]

The better comparison is Ford-Carter in 1976.  An incumbent president near or right at 50 in approval embarrasses himself in a debate and loses ground.  Fortunately for Obama, he has more time left than Ford did.  And he didn't do anything quite as bad as "There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe."

True, but Romney did a heck of a lot more than anybody to boost their profile in a debate since at least Clinton in 1992 or Reagan in 1980. Carter did no such thing in 1976 (he merely benefited from Ford's gaffe).

[Politico]

The last four years have been polarizing precisely because of Obama's race and for no other reason, Ornio.  That is obvious to anyone who has ever observed the Tea Party or has had any contact with white Americans outside of the enlightened states.

You're clearly dense and not worth arguing with (I hesitate even writing this) but I spend much time in Arizona and Texas and no one is balking at Obama because of race, it's his disastrous policies. If 4 years ago they voted for Obama and 4 years later they are not they are doing so because of his failure. People don't become racist over 3 years. they become disenchanted, & there is a MAJOR difference which your prejudiced eyes cannot see.

You're being rough on one of my favorite posters, Opebo The Greatest Leftist of Them All, but you're right: Race has absolutely nothing to do with about 95% of Romney's support. I wish I could say the same about Obama's aggregate support.

Significant numbers of blacks, gays and Hispanics must be shaking their head at some of the supporters of Obama...

[Politico]

Mondale - too incompetent being part of Carter's presidency
Dole - too old and not viable
Kerry - came the closest, but still seen by midwest Americans as an out-of-touch weak flip-flopping northeast liberal.

Also, GW Bush had a strong floor of voters at 51%.  These are the voters that supported Bush in 2000.

I agree with this. Many of the ones who voted for Bush in 2004 who did not vote for Bush in 2000 were swayed by the last-minute DUI revelation, which convinced them to stay home. Some others had a hard time voting against Gore simply because of the obvious economic successes of the Clinton/Gore years. However, the race was going to be a lopsided landslide for Bush until the DUI came out.

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Actually, Gore was really a center or center-right Democrat on most every issue other than the environment. And he totally downplayed his environmentalism in 2000. These are the reasons why Nader took 2.7% of the electorate, probably costing Gore the election in NH (and definitely FL).

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Yeah, Obama is in a world of trouble. It is hard to see him beating the Republicans at the turnout operation. Anything is possible, especially when you consider the Chicago Way being "vote early and vote often."

[Politico]

The comparisons to 1980 are weak and not accurate. As was previously stated, with Obama's approval ratings at a modest range and with a growing economy, as shown by the jobs report, it's not 1980

It's either 1976 or 1980. We have yet to see which.

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Missed the debate, I take it? Romney even beat Obama on likeability among viewers of the debate...

Without his teleprompter, Obama is a hopeless beggar of change...