Fox News highlights the demographic patterns behind his success: "President Obama’s win [last night] came from of a strong showing among core
Democratic constituencies, being more likeable than his opponent, and an
economy that voters felt is doing well-enough to keep him in the White
House. Also, the president’s response to Hurricane Sandy in the final
days of the campaign was an important factor to many voters."
The article continues: "Obama’s key groups made the difference -- both in their makeup of the
electorate and, for the most part, their strength of support for him. Non-whites made up 28 percent of the electorate, up a bit from 27
percent in 2008. This group largely backed Obama: 71 percent of
Hispanics (it was 67 percent last time), and 93 percent of blacks (down a
touch from 95 percent). Republican challenger Mitt Romney won among white voters by 20
percentage points. That’s up from John McCain’s edge of +12 points in
2008. In addition, the share of votes cast by whites was lower (72
percent) than it has been going back to at least 1992."
More: "Young voters were important to giving Obama his first term. Voters
under age 30 showed up again this time: They represented 19 percent of
all voters, one point higher than the 18 percent in 2008. Even so, they
didn’t back him as strongly this time: 60 percent -- down six points."
Even more exit poll information: "Meanwhile, more Democrats than Republicans voted, 38-32 percent. In
2008, Democrats also outnumbered Republicans by 39-32 percent.
Almost all Democrats supported the president (92 percent). That support was equaled among Republicans for Romney (93 percent). Forty-five percent of independents backed Obama, down from 52 percent
last time. Half of this swing group preferred Romney (49 percent). Marital status was a more significant factor than gender this year. Women, a traditional Democratic voting group, backed Obama by 11 points
-- about the same as by 13 points in 2008. Even so, married women
backed Romney by 7 points (an improvement from McCain’s +3 showing). Men backed Romney (52-45 percent), and married men backed him by an even wider margin (60-38 percent)."
And Romney's figures?: "Romney was successful in energizing his base: conservatives accounted
for 35 percent of all voters [yesterday], one-point higher than in 2008. And
he captured 82 percent of them (McCain got 78 percent). White
born-again Christians made up 26 percent of the voters today and 78
percent favored Romney (for McCain it was 74 percent). In addition, white Catholics went for Romney by a margin of 59-40
percent. This is a group that has historically backed the winner."
Obama's Key Groups Made The Difference
