Alternate 2012: Coattails

[emcee0]

November 6th, 2012
President Barack Obama is facing re-election with an abysmal 30%, approval rating although some believe it is less. In August 2012 a double dip recession suddenly hit leaving America with an unemployment rate of 13.8%. According to CNN 70% of Americans oppose the ACA and favour the free market alternative that was introduced by Senator Marco Rubio and are fed up that Obama refuses to give up Obamacare. As a result of the economy the Democrats have almost no enthusiasm and turn to social issues which is a bust. Many believe that this is a desperate ploy that hurts their popularity with women voters even more. Romney chooses Rubio as is running mate which makes a huge difference with Latinos.  Finally the Romney campaign successfully hammer Obama for the attacks in Benghazi exposing a massive cover up.
As a desperate last minute switch, the Obama campaign ditches Biden in favour of Hillary Clinton which does even more damage than good.
Going into the election here is a prediction map

Republicans are also set to gain a record breaking number of seats in the senate, far surpassing 1980. Many democratic senators are fearing for their lives as they are about to go down in one of the biggest senate defeats in history. As republicans are set to gain a minimum of 12 seats. Senate democrats are truly in panic mode as this could be one of the first times that an entire cycle of them could be wiped out

Highlight races
California
Feinstein- Fiorina
46-46
Connecticut
McMahon- Murphy
53-46
Delaware
48-43
Florida
Nelson vs West
37- 48
Hawaii
Lingle vs Hirono
48- 44
Indiana
Mourdock vs Donnelly
62-36
Maine
Summers vs King vs Dill
55-40- 5
Maryland
Cardin vs Steele
46-44
Massachusetts
Brown vs Warren
53-46
Michigan
Stabenow vs Amash
45-51
Minnesota
Klobuchar vs Coleman
46-46
Missouri (Despite Legitimate rape comments)
Akin vs McCaskill
58-36
Montana
Rehberg vs Tester
57- 39
Nebraska
Fischer vs Kerrey
70- 29
Nevada
Heller vs Berkley
60- 40
New Jersey
Bell vs Menendez
50-44
New Mexico
Wilson vs Heinrich
54-46
New York
Gilibrand vs Pataki
45-44
North Dakota
Berg vs Heitkamp
73- 27
Ohio
Mandel vs Brown
56-42
Pennsylvania
Smith vs Casey
51-45
Vermont
Sanders vs McGovern
48-45
Virginia
Allen vs Kaine
55-45
West Virginia
Raese vs Manchin
58-35
Washington
Rossi vs Cantwell
47-45
Wisconsin
Thompson vs Baldwin
57-39

[OSR stands with Israel]

if Obama had that low approval he would lose in a landslide just like anybody would

[Free Bird]

I want this. Now.

[Senator Cris]

It's looking very interesting so far.

[badgate]

I dare say, a most unfortunate prognosis.

[Türkisblau]

Seeing such luminaries like Allen West and Todd Akin winning makes me think things are going to go very far-right despite Romney trying to be moderate.

[Jerseyrules]

Seeing such luminaries like Allen West and Todd Akin winning makes me think things are going to go very far-right despite Romney trying to be moderate.

I envisage the Tea Party rising as a third party or something to that effect come 2016

[Türkisblau]

This coming back? It seemed interesting.

[emcee0]

Yes more to come!

[emcee0]

Campaign Rewind
Obama receives a major primary challenge by Hillary Clinton that draws on until the end of My
VP announcements
By a desperate move by the Obama campaign, Vice President Biden announces his retirement mid-July and announces that former Secretary Clinton will join the Democratic ticket. After a bitter primary challenge no one expected Clinton to accept, but Democrats hoped this alliance will form some unity  
GOP VP announcement
Governor Mitt Romney announces the selection Florida Senator Marco Rubio as his running mate
The Clinton selection proves to be very unpopular with the American people  with 60/32 negative favourable ratings for Hillary Clinton, but not as bad as Biden who was sitting at only 28% net positive ratings. Marco Rubio gets 58/37 net approval
Romney/Rubio 56%
Obama/Clinton 43%
Convention
GOP Convention
The GOP Convention drew more attendees and TV viewers than any other convention before. Texas Solicitor and senate Candidate Ted Cruz gives what many call the counter Obama 2004 Speech

" The question is not whether President Obama will destroy this country, he has! We have four years discovered how detrimental the destructive dangers of the progressive left wing disease that we call liberalism. You are right Mr.President, there is no liberal America because America has no welcome for socialists extremists like you. You have created an entitlement generation that cannot be fixed. You and your party call the gap in wages income inequality? I call it individual success versus Americans who are entitled and do not understand that you work hard for success to create the American dream. Americans will be burdened to purchase government regulated healthcare, they will come after your guns and believe that free hand outs and higher wages will fix our problems. Well Mr.President, George Orwell just called and he wants his novel back. This is the government overtake that he has warned us about". It is time for us to say Mr.President enough is enough, it is time to pack your bags because it is time to restore America

"This class warfare that this President is fear mongering labelling the wealthiest in our society as greedy corporates are what I call job creators, and if the President doesn't want job creators, he must not like people having jobs" W. Mitt Romney
The Romney Rubio ticket receives a huge post convention boost and leads Obama Clinton by nearly 20 points post RNC
DNC
The Democratic National Convention turned out to be exactly the opposite of what the GOP had held a week earlier. Party division, an nearly empty stadium and little enthusiasm. Many Americans feel no hope in the Democratic Party and many believe that they are the party fully responsible for the out of control spending and over regulation that caused the Great Financial Crisis. The convention lasts only one night because many prominent democrats refuse to appear at the convention with fear that ties to a very unpopular President will even further dwindle their hopes of victory in November. Bill Clinton refuses to appear at the convention, Hillary looks very stale and does not seem unified with the President, and President Obama looks tired, annoyed and gives his nomination speech with almost zero enthusiasm or charisma.
Romney/Rubio 59%
Obama Clinton 37%

[emcee0]

Benghazi Attacks- 250 Americans killed on US consulate, the Obama administration deny any prediction of this tragedy despite warning. Romney gains another 5 points in the polling

First Debate
Obama does just as badly as in real life
VP debate
Clinton comes off as angry, un-genuine and does not directly answer questions. Rubio defines Sec. Clinton as the Washington insiders of the past who have created the mess that we are in now
Nearly 80% believe that Rubio absolutely dominated the VP debate
Last 2 debates
Obama does not recover, gets angry every time he is asked a negative question about his handling of the current policies, Romney successfully goes after Obama on Benghazi and dominates him on foreign policy.

Obama tries to define Romney as a job killer and as part of the 1% and turns to celebrities and Hollywood appeal to win over young voters.

Gallup Poll predicts that if the election were held today Romney would win with nearly 400 electoral votes, a nearly veto proof majority in the Senate and a super majority in the house.

[hurricanehink]

What is the point of departure in this tienelime? How and when did things get so bad for Obama?

[Alexander]

Michigan is not blue in the senate map