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(glass rolling on table, electrical sounds)
Well, in 2012 we have a Mormon running against an African American,
and it's striking actually how little that's discussed.
I mean, it's refreshing actually how little that's discussed.
And the truth is in the polling data we didn't see that playing a very big role.
You know in 2008, there was a lot of concern among some that supported President Obama,
that he's leading in the polls, but maybe people are telling the pollsters
they're willing to vote for an African American president,
but they really won't do it on election day.
And they just don't want to tell the pollsters that
they are not willing to vote for an African American.
It's not just that you have an African American and a Mormon running against each other.
It's also that you have an African American named Barack Obama.
To a lot of people we would have thought, say 10 years ago,
in middle America, they'd say, "Wow, that's a funny name and
that doesn't sound like a president or something."
And yet it didn't matter in 2008; it's not mattering in 2012.
It's gonna be a closer election. It's harder to say who's going to win.
If you had to bet your paycheck on it, the president probably has the edge right now.
One of the most striking things when you look at the presidential race state by state
is that President Obama is performing better in Ohio than he is in his national numbers.
And that is a really difficult obstacle for Mitt Romney,
because it suggests that President Obama can actually lose the popular vote,
but still win Ohio.
And it's hard to see how Republicans win the White House
without winning Ohio.
(music)