Myth- Obama won because of the "youth" vote i.e. voters under 30.
Fact- Obama won 2/3 of voters under 30 but they made the difference in only two states, Indiana and North Carolina.
Myth- There was "record" turn out.
Fact- About a million more people voted in 2008 than in 2004.
In "04 Bush won the popular vote 62 million to 59 million. In '08 Obama won 65 million to 57 million. A difference of about a million.
Younger voters turned out in only slightly higher numbers than they did in 2004.
Myth- Obama owes his election to Latinos.
Fact- If there were no Latino voters; only New Mexico and Indiana would have changed hands.
Myth- Obama owes his election to the "union" vote.
Fact- The union vote split. McCain did well among white, working class males and union members are down to 12 % of all workers. Their money, volunteers and phone-banking didn't hurt but it's not why he won.
The REAL reason Obama won was 97% of the African-American vote. Without such support Obama would have lost 107 Electoral votes in Florida, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.






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