Collision 2012: A Comprehensive and Balanced Account of the 2012 Presidential Election
Collision 2012: A Book Review
If you are interested in learning more about one of the most important and contentious elections in US history, you might want to read Collision 2012, a book by Dan Balz that chronicles the events and dynamics that shaped the outcome of the 2012 presidential race between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. In this article, we will review Collision 2012 by summarizing its main points, analyzing its strengths and weaknesses, comparing it to other sources on the topic, and evaluating its relevance and implications for today's political landscape.
Collision 2012 Dan Balz Epub To Pdf
What is Collision 2012?
Collision 2012 is a nonfiction book written by Dan Balz, a veteran political reporter for The Washington Post. The book was published in 2013, a year after the 2012 US presidential election, and is based on Balz's extensive interviews with more than 300 insiders, including candidates, campaign staff, strategists, donors, pollsters, journalists, and voters. The book aims to provide a comprehensive and balanced account of the 2012 election, from the primaries to the general election, and to reveal the behind-the-scenes stories and insights that shaped the outcome.
The book is divided into four parts: Part One covers the prelude to the election, including Obama's first term, the rise of the Tea Party, and the Republican nomination process; Part Two covers the general election campaign, including the conventions, the debates, and the ads; Part Three covers the final weeks of the campaign, including the impact of Hurricane Sandy, the polls, and the turnout; and Part Four covers the aftermath of the election, including the reactions of the winners and losers, and the lessons learned for the future.
Who is Dan Balz?
Dan Balz is one of the most respected and experienced political journalists in the US. He has been covering politics for The Washington Post since 1978, and has reported on every presidential campaign since 1980. He has also written or co-written several other books on US politics, such as The Battle for America 2008, Storming the Gates, and The Power and The Glitter. He has won several awards for his journalism, such as the White House Correspondents' Association's Merriman Smith Award, the Gerald R. Ford Award for Coverage of the Presidency, and the American Political Science Association's Carey McWilliams Award. He is also a regular contributor to television and radio programs, such as PBS's Washington Week, NBC's Meet The Press, and NPR's The Diane Rehm Show.
What is an epub file?
An epub file is a digital format for ebooks that stands for electronic publication. It is an open standard that can be read by various devices and applications, such as e-readers, tablets, smartphones, and computers. An epub file can contain text, images, audio, video, interactivity, and metadata. An epub file has several advantages over other formats, such as being flexible, adaptable, accessible, and compatible.
What is a pdf file?
A pdf file is a digital format for documents that stands for portable document format. It was created by Adobe in 1993 and is widely used for sharing and printing documents. A pdf file can contain text, images, graphics, fonts, and other elements. A pdf file has several advantages over other formats, such as being secure, reliable, consistent, and versatile.
Why is Collision 2012 relevant?
Collision 2012 is relevant because it offers a detailed and insightful analysis of one of the most pivotal and polarized elections in US history. The 2012 election was not only a contest between two candidates with different visions and values for America but also a reflection of the deep divisions and challenges that faced the nation at that time. The election was influenced by various factors such as the economy, health care reform, immigration, foreign policy, social issues, media coverage, public opinion polls, demographic changes, voter turnout, and more. The election also had significant consequences for the future of US politics, such as the direction of the two major parties, the role of the Supreme Court, the prospects of bipartisanship, and the expectations of the American people.
The 2012 election also provides a useful comparison with previous and subsequent elections in terms of similarities and differences. For example, the 2012 election was similar to the 2008 election in that both featured an incumbent president seeking reelection against a former governor, both were affected by a major economic crisis, and both resulted in a victory for the Democratic candidate. However, the 2012 election was different from the 2008 election in that it had a lower voter turnout, it faced a stronger opposition from the Republican Party, and it showed a narrower margin of victory for the Democratic candidate. Similarly, the 2012 election can be contrasted with the 2016 and 2020 elections in terms of the candidates, the issues, the campaigns, and the outcomes.
How did Barack Obama win reelection?
a three-pronged strategy: defending his record, defining his opponent, and mobilizing his base. Obama defended his record by highlighting his achievements in office, such as ending the Iraq War, killing Osama bin Laden, passing the Affordable Care Act, rescuing the auto industry, and creating millions of jobs. He also acknowledged his shortcomings and appealed to the voters' patience and hope for a better future. Obama defined his opponent by portraying Romney as an out-of-touch elitist who would favor the wealthy over the middle class, flip-flop on key issues, and take the country backward on social and environmental policies. He also exploited Romney's weaknesses and gaffes, such as his "47 percent" remark, his tax returns, his Bain Capital record, and his foreign policy blunders. Obama mobilized his base by energizing his core supporters, such as women, minorities, young people, and liberals, and by expanding his coalition to include new voters, such as Latinos, Asians, and independents. He also relied on his superior organization, data analytics, fundraising, and ground game to get out the vote and win the swing states.
How did Mitt Romney lose the election?
Mitt Romney lost the election in 2012 by failing to overcome several challenges and mistakes that plagued his campaign. Romney faced several challenges from the start, such as his lack of charisma and likability, his moderate record as governor of Massachusetts, his Mormon faith, and his reputation as a flip-flopper. He also had to contend with a crowded and contentious Republican primary that forced him to move to the right on many issues and spend time and money to fend off his rivals. Romney made several mistakes during the general election campaign that hurt his chances of winning. He failed to offer a clear and compelling alternative vision to Obama's policies and instead focused on criticizing Obama's failures. He also failed to connect with the average voter and instead came across as aloof and out of touch. He also failed to address some of the key issues that mattered to the voters, such as immigration reform, climate change, and women's rights. He also made some costly errors that damaged his credibility and image, such as his "47 percent" remark, his tax returns, his Bain Capital record, and his foreign policy blunders.
How did other factors influence the election outcome?
Other factors that influenced the election outcome in 2012 included the media, the public opinion polls, the demographics, the economy, and other issues. The media played a significant role in shaping the narrative and perception of the candidates and the issues. The media coverage was generally more favorable to Obama than to Romney, as the media outlets tended to emphasize Obama's strengths and achievements, downplay his weaknesses and failures, highlight Romney's flaws and gaffes, and ignore his strengths and proposals. The media also influenced the agenda-setting, the framing, and the priming of the issues that mattered to the voters. The public opinion polls also had an impact on the election outcome, as they provided a measure of the candidates' popularity, performance, and prospects. The polls were generally accurate in predicting the national popular vote, but they underestimated Obama's advantage in the electoral college. The polls also influenced the expectations, the motivations, and the behaviors of the candidates, the media, and the voters. The demographics also affected the election outcome, as they reflected the changing composition of the American electorate. The demographics favored Obama over Romney, as Obama won overwhelmingly among women, minorities, young people, and urban dwellers, while Romney won narrowly among men, whites, older people, and rural dwellers. The demographics also indicated the growing diversity, polarization, and care reform, immigration, foreign policy, social issues, media coverage, public opinion polls, demographic changes, voter turnout, and more. - The 2012 election had significant consequences for the future of US politics, such as the direction of the two major parties, the role of the Supreme Court, the prospects of bipartisanship, and the expectations of the American people.
What did Collision 2012 teach us about US politics?
Collision 2012 taught us several lessons and insights about US politics, such as: - US politics is becoming more polarized and partisan, as the two major parties and their supporters are moving further apart on ideological, cultural, and geographical lines. - US politics is becoming more diverse and dynamic, as the changing demographics and preferences of the electorate are creating new opportunities and challenges for both parties and candidates. - US politics is becoming more data-driven and digital, as the use of data analytics, social media, and online platforms are transforming the way campaigns are run and voters are reached. - US politics is becoming more uncertain and unpredictable, as the impact of external events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, or pandemics, can alter the course and outcome of elections.
What did Collision 2012 teach us about ourselves?
Collision 2012 taught us several lessons and insights about ourselves, such as: - We are a divided nation, but not a hopeless one. We have different views and values on many issues, but we also share some common goals and ideals for our country. - We are an engaged nation, but not a satisfied one. We have high levels of participation and interest in politics, but we also have low levels of trust and confidence in our institutions and leaders. - We are an informed nation, but not a discerning one. We have access to a lot of information and sources on politics, but we also have difficulty in sorting out facts from opinions, truths from lies, and signals from noise. - We are an influential nation, but not an isolated one. We have a lot of power and responsibility in shaping the world's affairs, but we also have to deal with the consequences and challenges of our actions and inactions.
What can we expect from future elections?
We can expect future elections to be similar to the 2012 election in some ways, but different in other ways. Some of the similarities may include: - The persistence of polarization and partisanship in US politics - The importance of demographics and turnout in determining electoral outcomes - The role of data analytics and digital media in campaign strategies - The influence of external events and issues on voter preferences Some of the differences may include: - The emergence of new candidates and leaders from both parties - The introduction of new issues and policies that reflect the changing needs and demands of the voters - The development of new technologies and platforms that enhance or disrupt political communication - The occurrence of unexpected events and surprises that challenge or change political expectations
Conclusion
In conclusion, Collision 2012 is a book by Dan Balz that provides a comprehensive and balanced account of the 2012 US presidential election between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. The book covers all the major events, actors, and factors that shaped the outcome of the election, and reveals the behind-the-scenes stories and insights that explain the dynamics of the election. The book also compares the 2012 election with other sources and perspectives on the topic, and evaluates its relevance and implications for today's political landscape. The book offers several lessons and insights about US politics, ourselves, and future elections. The book is a valuable source for anyone who wants to learn more about one of the most important and contentious elections in US history.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Collision 2012:
Who is the target audience for Collision 2012?
The target audience for Collision 2012 is anyone who is interested in US politics, especially in presidential elections. The book is suitable for general readers who want to get an overview of the 2012 election, as well as for students, scholars, and professionals who want to get a deeper analysis of the 2012 election.
What are the main sources and methods used by Dan Balz in writing Collision 2012?
The main sources and methods used by Dan Balz in writing Collision 2012 are interviews with more than 300 insiders, such as candidates, campaign staff, strategists, donors, pollsters, journalists, and voters. Balz also uses other sources, such as books, articles, documents, and data. Balz uses a chronological and thematic approach to organize his narrative and analysis.
What are the main strengths and weaknesses of Collision 2012 as a source on the 2012 election?
The main strengths of Collision 2012 as a source on the 2012 election are its depth, breadth, and balance. The book offers a comprehensive and nuanced account of the 2012 election, covering all the major events, actors, and factors that shaped the outcome. The book also provides a rich and diverse array of perspectives and insights from various stakeholders. The book also strives to be fair and objective in its analysis and evaluation of both candidates and their campaigns. The main weaknesses of Collision 2012 as a source on the 2012 election are its reliance on interviews with insiders, its focus on the horse race aspect of the election, and its lack of critical reflection and context. The book relies heavily on interviews with insiders who may have their own agendas, biases, and memories, and who may not represent the views and values of the general public. The book also focuses mainly on the horse race aspect of the election, rather than the substantive issues and policies that mattered to the voters. The book also lacks some critical reflection and context on the broader implications and consequences of the election for US politics and society.
How does Collision 2012 compare to other books on the 2012 election?
Collision 2012 compares favorably to other books on the 2012 election in terms of its depth, breadth, and balance. The book offers a comprehensive and nuanced account of the 2012 election, covering all the major events, actors, and factors that shaped the outcome. The book also provides a rich and diverse array of perspectives and insights from various stakeholders. The book also strives to be fair and objective in its analysis and evaluation of both candidates and their campaigns. Some other books on the 2012 election include The Center Holds: Obama and His Enemies by Jonathan Alter, The Gamble: Choice and Chance in the 2012 Presidential Election by John Sides and Lynn Vavreck, Double Down: Game Change 2012 by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann, and The Victory Lab: The Secret Science of Winning Campaigns by Sasha Issenberg.
What are some of the main takeaways from Collision 2012?
Some of the main takeaways from Collision 2012 are: and challenges that faced the nation at that time, as well as the hopes and aspirations that motivated the voters. - The 2012 election was a contest between two candidates with different visions and values for America, who ran very different campaigns that highlighted their strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures, and similarities and differences. - The 2012 election was influenced by various factors such as the economy, health care reform, immigration, foreign policy, social issues, media coverage, public opinion polls, demographic changes, voter turnout, and more. - The 2012 election had significant consequences for the future of US politics, such as the direction of the two major parties, the role of the Supreme Court, the prospects of bipartisanship, and the expectations of the American people. - The 2012 election taught us several lessons and insights about US politics, ourselves, and future elections. 71b2f0854b