The author walks through recent polling information and points out that in most areas where it matters, a large divide has developed between those who support Romney and those who support Obama. This is worth a discussion in class - what does this mean about the governability of the nation at this moment in time?
I'll point out one of his findings, the developing age gap:
In 2008, those 60 years and older
supported John McCain by a 4-point margin, while those 18-29 voted for
Obama by a 34-point margin. This 38-point age gap was the largest gap
since exit polls were first taken in 1972.
It would probably
surprise you to learn that the age gap is a relatively recent
phenomenon. There was no relation between age and voting patterns in
1992, for instance. Today, the Greatest Generation has been replaced by
the much more conservative "silent generation". Today's younger voters
are 40% non-white, a core Democratic group, and those who are white grew
up during the Bush years.
The result is that the age gap is larger today than it was even four years ago. A recent GWU/Battleground Politico poll has Obama holding a large 24-point lead among 18-29 year-olds, and trailing among those 60-plus by 18 points.
