The US presidential election, 2012… The closing stages

Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney: Strains in the relationship?

By Ronald Austin

This week the 57th quadrennial presidential election of the United States entered its final phase. The campaigns of both President Obama and Mitt Romney have intensified their activities, especially in the 10 ‘swing’ states. In one of these, for example, Ohio, 29,000 ads have been aired over a thirty day period ending September 17. One would have thought that the intensity of the campaigning in Ohio and other parts of the country would have had a decisive impact on the standing of the candidates, but this has not happened. Despite the advertisement ‘carpet bombing’ of constituencies in important states and some very skilful campaigning, the race has remained a tight one. The undecided voters, even at this point in the game, have remained stubbornly undecided.

By all accounts President Obama is leading in most states,