Election binge

We aren’t going to talk about specifically about elections for a few units, but how can we not take a look at the recent election given the start time of our course.  While Connecticut actually had a white-hot election that garnered lots of national media attention – Murphy versus McMahon - which was much like the McMahon/Blumenthal race in 2010, but the Nutmeg State certainly wasn't alone in terms of big races.

First, read Ken Rudin’s article written before the election.  Mr. Rudin is an expert political commentator for National Public Radio and he has predicted the “races to watch” for political junkies like ourselves.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/politicaljunkie/2012/11/05/164147704/what-to-look-for-on-election-day-the-battle-for-the-white-house-congress

Read the above article.  Why do you think so many House races are in play for this election?  What effect is the retirement of senior congressmen going to have according to Rudin?  Does Rudin make a clear cut prediction of eventual winners? 

Now, take a look at the platforms of the two presidential candidates in 2012.  For fun, lets take a look at the Clinton platform from the 1992 election.  Have we change or moved on with the issues?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/05/us/politics/how-the-party-platforms-differ.html?_r=0

How did the Obama and Romney platforms differ?  What are the major issues?

http://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/26/us/1992-campaign-platform-final-draft-democrats-reject-part-their-past.html?pagewanted=2&src=pm

What does Clinton’s 1992 Platform focus on?  Does it differ substantially from the platforms in 2012?