Since so much of the post was a synthesis of information rather than direct quotes, not many statements can easily be linked to just one source; using footnotes would have been easier. But this morning I tried. I went back and added links where possible to the online version of the post. (Full disclosure: In doing so, I noticed that I had originally misstated the source of the characterization of the 2008 election result as a “rejection of the Bush Legacy.” It was the New York Times, not the Washington Post.)
For those who might want to know the full set of sources I consulted for the post, here’s the list:
Poll: Obama’s losing support; Romney would beat him now
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/12/10/105105/poll-obamas-losing-support-romney.html
Wikipedia, U.S. Presidential Election, 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2008
Obama Wins Election; McCain Loses as Bush Legacy Is Rejected
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/us/politics/05campaign.html
2008 Voter Turnout Same as 2004
http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/2008_voter_turnout_same_as_2004_/
Dissecting the 2008 Electorate: Most Diverse in U.S. History
http://pewhispanic.org/reports/report.php?ReportID=108
Young Voters in the 2008 Election
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1031/young-voters-in-the-2008-election
New Census Data Confirm Increase in Youth Voter Turnout in 2008
http://www.civicyouth.org/PopUps/Census_Youth_Voter_2008.pdf
Obama spent record $740.6 million for his campaign
http://www.infiniteunknown.net/2008/12/28/obama-spent-record-7406-million-for-his-campaign/
2008 campaign costliest in U.S. history
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15283.html
CNN Election Center 2008 Exit Polls
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/polls/
CNN Election Center 2010 Exit Polls
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2010/results/polls.main/
Clear Rejection of the Status Quo, No Consensus About Future Policies
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1789/2010-midterm-elections-exit-poll-analysis
Turnout: explains a lot
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/2010/nov/03/us-midterm-elections-2010-turnout-says-a-lot
Youth Voters in the 2010 Elections
http://www.civicyouth.org/youth-voters-in-the-2010-elections/
Trends in Political Values and Core Attitudes: 1987-2009 – Independents Take Center Stage in Obama Era
http://people-press.org/reports/pdf/517.pdf
Promises Kept: The First Two Years in Office
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/PromisesKept/
Also, while not cited in the version of my talk I posted online, I did urge the group to read Ron Brownstein’s article in the January 17, 2011, issue of the National Journal titled “White Flight” – and I recommend it to you as well. Noting that “By any standard, white voters’ rejection of Democrats in November’s elections was daunting and even historic,” Brownstein makes the case that to win in 2012, Obama may have to rethink the traditional Democratic base. It’s a thought-provoking article and worth the read.
http://nationaljournal.com/magazine/in-2012-obama-may-need-a-new-coalition-20110105?page=1