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2012 Elections In Maryland. Dan Nataf, Ph.D. Director, Center for the Study of Local Issues Anne Arundel Community College www2.aacc.edu/csli. National Results. National Results. How did the pollsters do? Gallup Tracking Poll – Sept. – Nov. 4.
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2012 Elections In Maryland Dan Nataf, Ph.D. Director, Center for the Study of Local Issues Anne Arundel Community College www2.aacc.edu/csli
How did the pollsters do?Gallup Tracking Poll – Sept. – Nov. 4 Registered voters – add 3+/- to Romney for likely voters Oct 11 Oct 3
Map of Battleground States NH Wis Iowa Ohio Nev. Va. Colo. NC Fl.
Exit Poll: Demographics http://reporting.sunlightfoundation.com/2012/return_on_investment/
National Demographic Lessons • Solid Democratic voters: Liberals, African-Americans, Latinos, seculars, single, under 30 • Lean Democratic: moderates, 30-44, women, • Uncertain: Suburban, Catholics • Lean Republican: unaffiliated/indep., white, Protestants, married, males, 45-64, 65+ • Solid Republican: Conservatives, rural
Dems: 55 (with 2 independents) Reps: 45 Senate:
National Results: Election findings • Presidential races lean Democratic but without clear hegemony • Senate races lean Democratic, but depends on local candidates • House – resists Democratic trend due to Republican gerrymandering (based on 2010 state legislative election results) • Shifting coalitions – “new emerging Democratic majority” underlies trend • Elections close enough – perfect ground game needed to win
Lessons for State Elections • Democratic hegemony remains unchanging • Solid Democratic jurisdictions – Montgomery, PG, Charles, Baltimore City • Lean Democratic - Howard, Baltimore County • Battleground Counties: Anne Arundel, Kent, Somerset, Wicomico, Dorchester
Anne Arundel County:Presidential Vote: 2008 vs. 2012 Libertarian: ‘08 = .5 ‘12 = 1.4 Green: ’08 = .7 ‘12 = .7 Total: 1.2/2.1
AA County Lessons • County has purple qualities – support some Democratic initiatives (SSM, redistricting) but less so others (Dream, Casinos) • Maximum turnout election still results in Democratic electoral minority for top of ticket • Local Democratic candidates still need to be cautious about distancing themselves from national and statewide candidates • Council districts seem evenly split: Dem: 1, 4, 6; Rep: 3,5, 7. Battleground district is 2
AAC: Demographic Lessons • Solid Democratic voters: Liberals, Blacks (except SSM), Jews, $0-50k, seculars, single, under 30 • Lean Democratic: moderates, 31-40, women, $150-250k • Uncertain: some college, BA, PostGrad work, 61-70 • Lean Republican: unaffiliated, HS Diploma, $50-150k, >$250k, white, Protestants, Catholic, married, males, 41-60, 71+ • Solid Republican: Conservatives, 2 year degree, Other Christians, White Evangelicals