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{{Short description|American political campaign}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox U.S. federal election campaign {{Infobox U.S. federal election campaign
| committee = Obama for America | 2012 | committee = Obama for America | 2012
| logo = ]<br />'']''
| logo =
| campaign = ] | campaign = ]<br />]
| candidate = ] (President) <br /><small>]</small><br />] (Vice President)<br /><small>]</small> | candidate = ''']''' <br />44th ] <br>''(2009–2017)''<br />''']''' <br />47th ] <br>''(2009–2017)''
| cand_id = | cand_id = P80003338
| fec_date = 2012-12-31<ref name="receipts">{{cite web |url=http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/cancomsrs/?_12+P80003338 |title=Candidate (P80003338) Summary Reports – 2011–2012 Cycle |publisher=] |access-date=July 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012125841/http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/cancomsrs/?_12+P80003338 |archive-date=October 12, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| fec_date =
| status = Announced April 4, 2011 <br> Presumptive Nominee April 3, 2012 <br> Taking Official Nomination September 6, 2012 | status = Announced: April 4, 2011 <br> Presumptive nominee: April 3, 2012 <br> Official nominee: September 5, 2012<br />Won election: November 6, 2012 <br> Inaugurated: January 20, 2013
| affiliation = ] | affiliation = ]
| headquarters = 130 East Randolph Street <br> ], IL 60601<ref>{{cite web|author=Jeff Zeleny |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/obama-2012-campaign-to-start-in-chicago/768537/ |title=Obama 2012 campaign to start in Chicago |publisher=Indian Express |date=2011-03-29 |accessdate=2011-09-13}}</ref> | headquarters = 130 East Randolph Street <br> ], IL 60601<ref>{{cite web|author=Jeff Zeleny |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/obama-2012-campaign-to-start-in-chicago/768537/ |title=Obama 2012 campaign to start in Chicago |work=The Indian Express |date=March 29, 2011 |access-date=September 13, 2011}}</ref>
| key_people = ] <small>(Campaign Manager)</small> <br> ] <small>(Communications Director)</small> <br> ] <small>(Finance Chairman)</small> <br> Ben LaBolt <small>(National Press Secretary)</small><br> | key_people = ] (campaign chairman) <br>] (senior strategist)<br>] (chief technology officer) <br>] (chief integration and innovation officer) <br> ] (deputy campaign manager) <br> Brent Colburn (communications director) <br> ] (finance chairman) <br> ] (national press secretary) <br> ] (finance director)
| receipts = $196,610,770 (3-31-12) | receipts = 738,503,770
| slogan = "Forward" | slogan = Forward.<br>Middle Class First
| chant = | chant =
| homepage = | homepage = (archived)
}} }}
{{US 2012 presidential elections series}}
{{Barack Obama sidebar}}
{{Barack Obama series|expanded=Presidential campaigns}}
On April 4, 2011, the ], ], formally announced his '''re-election campaign for 2012'''.<ref>(2011-04-04) , ] Retrieved 2011-04-04.</ref><ref>Condon, Stephanie (2011-04-04) , ]. Retrieved 2011-04-04.</ref> His running mate is Vice President ]<ref name="ObamaBiden">{{cite news|url=http://www.wcsh6.com/rss/article/193366/68/Obama-Biden-officially-begin-re-election-campaign|title=Obama, Biden officially begin re-election campaign|last=Christian|first=Ken|date=March 26, 2012|publisher=wcsh6.com|accessdate=4 May 2012}}</ref> and they will be opposed by candidates from the ]<ref name="nytimes1">Shear, Micheal D. (2011-04-04) {{cite news|url= http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/obama-launches-re-election-facing-new-political-challenges/?hp |title=Obama Launches Re-Election Facing New Political Challenge|location=United States |publisher='']'' |date= April 4, 2011|accessdate=2011-04-04 |first=Michael D. |last=Shear}}</ref><ref name="guardian1">Adams, Richard (2011-04-04){{cite news|author= |url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/04/barack-obama-twitter-facebook-election |title=Barack Obama tweets the start to his 2012 re-election campaign &#124; World news |publisher='']'' |date= April 4, 2011|accessdate=2011-04-04 |location=London |first=Richard |last=Adams}}</ref> and candidates from ]. The ] will take place on Tuesday, November 6, 2012.
{{Joe Biden series|expanded=Vice presidential campaigns}}


On April 4, 2011, ], the ] ], announced his candidacy for re-election as president.<ref>(April 4, 2011) , ]. Retrieved April 4, 2011.</ref><ref>Condon, Stephanie (April 4, 2011) , ]. Retrieved April 4, 2011.</ref> On September 5, 2012, he again became the nominee of the ] for the ]. Along with his running mate, ] ],<ref name="ObamaBiden">{{cite news|url=http://www.wcsh6.com/rss/article/193366/68/Obama-Biden-officially-begin-re-election-campaign|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209024352/http://www.wcsh6.com/rss/article/193366/68/Obama-Biden-officially-begin-re-election-campaign|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 9, 2013|title=Obama, Biden officially begin re-election campaign|last=Christian|first=Ken|date=March 26, 2012|publisher=wcsh6.com|access-date=May 4, 2012}}</ref> Obama was opposed in the general election by former ] ], along with various<ref name="nytimes1">Shear, Michael D. (April 4, 2011) {{cite news|url= http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/obama-launches-re-election-facing-new-political-challenges/?hp |title=Obama Launches Re-Election Facing New Political Challenge|location=United States |work=] |date= April 4, 2011|access-date=April 4, 2011 |first=Michael D. |last=Shear}}</ref><ref name="guardian1">{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/apr/04/barack-obama-twitter-facebook-election |title=Barack Obama tweets the start to his 2012 re-election campaign |work=] |date= April 4, 2011|access-date=April 4, 2011 |location=London |first=Richard |last=Adams| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110405002108/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/04/barack-obama-twitter-facebook-election| archive-date= April 5, 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> minor candidates from ]. The ] took place on Tuesday, November 6, 2012.
Obama's campaign headquarters are in ] and key members of ], such as ] and ], are returning to staff it.<ref>(2011-04-04) {{cite web|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110404/ap_on_el_ge/us_obama2012 |title=Obama opens bid for new term, no longer outsider - Yahoo! News |publisher=News.yahoo.com |date= |accessdate= 2011-04-04}}{{dead link|date=January 2012}}</ref> On the day of the announcement, the campaign released a promotional video showing supporters of Obama organizing for the re-election effort.<ref name="nytimes1"/> As '']'' newspaper noted, this was the first U.S. presidential re-election campaign to use ] and ] for promotion.<ref name="guardian1"/>


Obama's campaign headquarters was in ] and key members of ], such as ] and ], returned to staff it.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110404/ap_on_el_ge/us_obama2012 |title=Obama opens bid for new term, no longer outsider – Yahoo!! News |publisher=Yahoo! News |access-date=April 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405201718/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110404/ap_on_el_ge/us_obama2012 |archive-date=April 5, 2011 }}</ref> On the day of the announcement, the campaign released a promotional video showing supporters of Obama organizing for the re-election effort.<ref name="nytimes1"/> As '']'' newspaper noted, this was the first US presidential reelection campaign to use ] and ] for promotion.<ref name="guardian1"/>
== Early stages ==


Between early-2011 and June 30, 2012, the Obama campaign and supporters spent approximately $400 million, according to the ].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Confessore |first1=Nicholas |last2=McGinty |first2=Jo Craven |date=2012-08-05 |title=Record Spending by Obama's Camp Shrinks Coffers |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/us/politics/record-spending-by-obamas-camp-shrinks-coffers.html |access-date=2023-02-17 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Obama won his reelection bid by a margin of 51.06 to 47.21%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2012/2012presgeresults.pdf |title=Official 2012 Presidential General Election Results |url-status=dead |access-date=March 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140731191620/http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2012/2012presgeresults.pdf |archive-date=July 31, 2014 |df=mdy }}</ref> This was the first time since ], when President ] won re-election, that a Democratic president had won by a majority of the electoral votes and over 51% of the popular vote twice.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thenation.com/blog/171178/obama-has-great-big-mandate-and-he-must-use-it# |title=Obama's 3 Million Vote, Electoral College Landslide, Majority of States Mandate |last=Nichols |first=John |date=November 9, 2012 |work=The Nation |access-date=November 18, 2012}}</ref>

==Early stages==
{{See also|Presidency of Barack Obama|Political positions of Barack Obama}} {{See also|Presidency of Barack Obama|Political positions of Barack Obama}}
On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama was ] as the ] ]. On April 4, 2011, President Obama officially announced his candidacy for re-election.<ref name="guardian1"/> The announcement was made via an online video titled "It Begins With Us", posted on his campaign website. The President also filled out official forms with the ] at that time.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2011/04/barack_obamas_re-election_campaign | work=The Economist | title=Lack of change you can believe in}}</ref>


On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama was ] as the ] ]. On April 4, 2011, President Obama officially announced his candidacy for re-election.<ref name="guardian1"/> The announcement was made through an online video titled "It Begins With Us", posted on his campaign website. The President also filled out official forms with the ] at that time.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2011/04/barack_obamas_re-election_campaign | newspaper=The Economist | title=Lack of change you can believe in | date=April 4, 2011}}</ref>
President Obama did not face a significant challenge in the ], with no other candidate on the ballot in all but seven states. On April 3, 2012 Obama won the Maryland and District of Columbia primaries, giving him more than the required 2778 delegates to secure the nomination.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/03/breaking-obama-clinches-democratic-nomination/ |title=Obama clinches Democratic nomination |publisher=cnn.com |date=2012-04-03 |accessdate=2012-04-03}}</ref>


President Obama did not face a significant challenge in the ], with no other candidate on the ballot in all but seven states. On April 3, 2012, Obama won the Maryland and District of Columbia primaries, giving him more than the required 2,778 delegates to secure the nomination.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/03/breaking-obama-clinches-democratic-nomination/ |title=Obama clinches Democratic nomination |publisher=CNN |date=April 3, 2012 |access-date=April 3, 2012 |archive-date=April 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404203415/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/03/breaking-obama-clinches-democratic-nomination/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> On April 30, 2012, the campaign announced that its slogan would be "Forward".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-xpm-2012-apr-30-la-pn-obama-campaign-video-forward-20120430-story.html |title=Obama campaign video teases new slogan: 'Forward' |work=Los Angeles Times |date=April 30, 2012 |access-date=May 3, 2012 |author=Memoli, Michael A.}}</ref>
The campaign is based in Chicago in ], instead of in ], where all other modern incumbent presidents had their re-election headquarters.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://parklabreanewsbeverlypress.com/news/2011/04/2012-campaign-barrels-through-l-a/ |first=Edwin |last=Folven |title=2012 Campaign Barrels Through L.A. |work=Parke Labrea News/Beverly Press |date=April 27, 2011 |accessdate=May 16, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/us/politics/21obama.html |first=Jeff |last=Zeleny |title=Obama Will Move Political Operations to Chicago |newspaper=New York Times |date=January 20, 2011 |accessdate=May 16, 2011}}</ref> The decision to base the campaign outside of Washington was said to be to build up grassroots support for the re-election.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/28/obama-campaign-to-be-run-from-chicago/ |first=Jeff |last=Zeleny |title=Obama Campaign Picks Headquarters in Chicago |newspaper=New York Times |date=March 28, 2011 |accessdate=May 16, 2011}}</ref>


The campaign was based in Chicago in ], instead of in ], where all other modern incumbent presidents have had their re-election headquarters.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://parklabreanewsbeverlypress.com/news/2011/04/2012-campaign-barrels-through-l-a/ |first=Edwin |last=Folven |title=2012 Campaign Barrels Through L.A. |work=Parke Labrea News/Beverly Press |date=April 27, 2011 |access-date=May 16, 2011 |archive-date=May 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110502004302/http://parklabreanewsbeverlypress.com/news/2011/04/2012-campaign-barrels-through-l-a/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/us/politics/21obama.html |first=Jeff |last=Zeleny |title=Obama Will Move Political Operations to Chicago |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 20, 2011 |access-date=May 16, 2011}}</ref> The decision to base the campaign outside of Washington was said have been taken so as to ensure grassroots support for re-election.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/28/obama-campaign-to-be-run-from-chicago/ |first=Jeff |last=Zeleny |title=Obama Campaign Picks Headquarters in Chicago |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 28, 2011 |access-date=May 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110421021807/http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/28/obama-campaign-to-be-run-from-chicago/| archive-date= April 21, 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref>
On April 30, 2012 the campaign announced that its slogan would be "Forward".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://articles.latimes.com/2012/apr/30/news/la-pn-obama-campaign-video-forward-20120430 | title=Obama campaign video teases new slogan: 'Forward'| work=Los Angeles Times| date=April 30, 2012 | accessdate=May 03, 2012 | author=Memoli, Michael A.}}</ref>


== Fundraising ==
== Campaign staff and policy team ==
{{main|Fundraising for the 2012 United States presidential election}}
Many key people from the successful 2008 campaign are expected to return. ], who was in charge of Media in 2008 and who worked in the ] as a ] from 2009 until 2011, returned to Chicago to work on the campaign as the top communications official.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">{{cite news|author=Sam Stein |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/05/obama-2012-campaign-press-secretary_n_845252.html |title=Obama 2012 Campaign Names National Press Secretary |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date=2011-04-15 |accessdate=2011-09-13}}</ref> ], who worked in the White House as ] for Operations from 2009 until 2011, moved to Chicago to serve as campaign manager.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2011/02/obama_2012_team_in_chicago_mes.html | work=Chicago Sun-Times | title=Obama 2012 team in Chicago: Messina scouting HQ, courting donors}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Kevin Spak |url=http://www.newser.com/story/81680/obama-team-already-planning-for-2012.html |title=Obama Team Already Planning for 2012 |publisher=Newser.com |date=2010-02-24 |accessdate=2011-09-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://billionaires.forbes.com/article/06dFdUi7gu8Ib?q=David+Axelrod |title=The World's Billionaires - Forbes |publisher=Billionaires.forbes.com |date= |accessdate=2012-04-12}}</ref> ], the ], will serve as finance chairman.<ref name="finance chair">{{cite news|author=1310 News|title=Obama taps fundraiser, ambassador to Sweden as 2012 campaign finance chairman|url=http://www.1310news.com/news/world/article/219483--obama-taps-fundraiser-ambassador-to-sweden-as-2012-campaign-finance-chairman|accessdate=May 2, 2011}}</ref> Jennifer O'Malley Dillon, who worked at the ] as an executive director, was named deputy campaign manager.<ref name="RollCall">Trygstad, Kyle (2011-04-07) {{cite web|url=http://www.rollcall.com/issues/56_107/-204685-1.html |title=Shop Talk: Obama’s 2012 Campaign Team Is Shaping Up |location=United States |publisher='']'' |date= |accessdate=2011-05-02}}</ref> The other deputy campaign manager is ], who was the 2008 finance director and was briefly the ].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/05/AR2011030502069.html?wprss=rss_politics | work=] | first=Dan | last=Balz | title=Obama's 2012 reelection team gets moving | date=March 5, 2011}}</ref> Ben LaBolt will serve as national press secretary. LaBolt worked for ]'s ], worked as Obama's senate press secretary, worked for the 2008 campaign, worked as a deputy ], and currently works for ] ],<ref name="RollCall"/> Katie Hogan, who worked on the 2008 campaign, will serve as deputy press secretary.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com"/> Rahm Emanunel is expected to play a role in the campaign. Emanuel served as ] from January 2009 until October 2010 and worked on President ]'s successful ] and ] campaigns.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Whos-Running-the-Re-Election-Campaign-119185354.html |title=Who's Running Obama's Re-Election Campaign? |publisher=NBC Chicago |date=2011-09-08 |accessdate=2011-09-13}}</ref> Rufus Gifford will serve as Finance Director, Elizabeth Lowery will serve as Deputy Finance Director, Jeremy Bird will serve as National Field Director, Marlon Marshall will serve as Deputy National Field Director, ] will serve as ] Director, and Elizabeth Jarvis-Shean will serve as Research Director.<ref name="RollCall"/> Katherine Archuleta was named political director.<ref>{{cite web|author=Liz Sauchelli |url=http://dailycaller.com/2011/06/09/obama-to-announce-political-director-for-2012-reelection-campaign/ |title=Obama to announce political director for 2012 reelection campaign |publisher=The Daily Caller |date=2011-06-09 |accessdate=2011-09-13}}</ref>


The campaign began accepting online donations on April 4, 2011, the day Obama announced his candidacy. In the first 24 hours after online donations began to be accepted, over 23,000 online donations of $200 or less were made.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/06/obama-re-election-campaign-touts-small-dollar-donations/ |publisher=CNN |date=April 6, 2011 |title=Obama re-election campaign touts small dollar donations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107171819/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/06/obama-re-election-campaign-touts-small-dollar-donations/ |archive-date=January 7, 2012 }}</ref> President Obama headlined his first campaign fundraiser in April 2011 in Chicago. He also headlined fundraisers in ], ], and ] in April 2011.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-heads-to-chicago-for-first-fundraisers-for-his-2012-campaign/ | work=CBS News | first=Mark | last=Knoller | title=Obama heads to Chicago for first fundraisers for his 2012 campaign | date=April 14, 2011}}</ref> On April 29, 2011, it was announced that ], the ], would serve as finance chairman.<ref name="finance chair"/> Many sources claim that the campaign may be the first campaign in US history to raise more than one billion dollars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://protopolitics.com/node/96 |title=Obama wants to raise 1 Billion Dollars for 2012 campaign |publisher=Protopolitics.com |access-date=September 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904051221/http://protopolitics.com/node/96 |archive-date=September 4, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Kavanagh |first=Tom |url=http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/12/13/obamas-2012-campaign-fundraising-could-top-1-billion/ |title=Obama's 2012 Campaign Fundraising Could Top $1 Billion |publisher=Politics Daily |date=December 13, 2010 |access-date=September 13, 2011 |archive-date=August 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823135307/http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/12/13/obamas-2012-campaign-fundraising-could-top-1-billion/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Jeanne Cummings |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/47596.html |title=Team Obama's 2012 cash challenge |publisher=Politico |date=January 14, 2011 |access-date=September 13, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Steve Peoples |url=http://www.rollcall.com/issues/56_98/obama-billion-204192-1.html |title=GOP Has New 2012 Target: Obama's $1 Billion Campaign |publisher=Roll Call |date=March 17, 2011 |access-date=September 13, 2011}}</ref> In March 2011, Campaign Chairman Jim Messina asked a group of 450 top donors to raise $350,000.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/18/us/politics/18democrats.html | work=The New York Times | first=Jeff | last=Zeleny | title=$350,000 Goal Is Set For Re-election Donors | date=March 17, 2011}}</ref> During the second fundraising quarter of 2011 (the first of the campaign), the campaign raised a record amount of $86,000,000.<ref>{{cite news|author=Chase Davis |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/14/obama-california-fundraisin_n_898320.html?ir=Politics&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000008 |title=Obama's California Fundraisers: How Much Money Exactly? |work=The Huffington Post |date=July 14, 2011 |access-date=September 13, 2011}}</ref> As of May 3, 2012, Obama and his team have held 130 fundraisers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/05/obama-easily-switches-into-campaign-mode-for-fundraisers/ |title=Frequent Fundraiser: Obama Sets Record |website=ABC News |date=May 3, 2012 |access-date=July 30, 2012 |first1=Devin |last1=Dwyer }}</ref>
==Campaign co-chairs==
In February 2012, a list of campaign co-chairs was announced. The co-chairs are<ref>http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/02/obama-campaign-announces-cochairs-115161.html</ref>
*Lynnette Acosta – OFA volunteer leader from Florida
*] – CEO of ]
*] – U.S. Senator from Colorado
*] – ]
*] – ] and former U.S. Senator from Rhode Island
*Ann Cherry – Retired teacher and OFA volunteer leader from North Carolina
*] – US Representative from the 32nd District of California
*] – US Representative from the 5th District of Missouri
*] – Former ] to President Obama, former ]
*Maria Elena Durazo – Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, ]
*] – U.S. Senator from Illinois
*] – ]
*]– Former U.S. Senator from Wisconsin
*] – US Representative from the 20th District of Texas
*Loretta Harper – High School Counselor and OFA volunteer leader from Nevada
*] – ]
*Sai Iyer – Student at ] and OFA volunteer leader from Virginia
*] – Author, President of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, daughter of U.S. President ]
*] – Actress and Philanthropist
*Felesia Martin – OFA volunteer leader from Wisconsin
*Vashti McKenzie – African Methodist Episcopal Bishop
*] – ]
*] – Actor, Former White House Associate Director for the Office of Public Engagement
*] – Retired ] ]
*] – ]
*] - Former ] and ]
*Elaine Price – Retired Ohio resident and OFA volunteer leader from Ohio
*Penny Pritzker – Founder and CEO of PSP Capital Partners
*John Register – ] Veteran and Paralympian
*] – US Representative from the 9th District of Illinois
*] – U.S. Senator from New Hampshire
*] – President of the ]
*] – Partner at DLA Piper LLP and past Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
*] – Former ]
*] – ]


More than 550,000 individuals donated towards the campaign in the second quarter of 2011, which is a much larger number than the 180,000 individuals who donated to Obama's 2008 campaign during the first half of 2007.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-takes-2012-fundraising-lead-with-86m/ | work=CBS News | title=Obama takes 2012 fundraising lead with $86M |date=July 13, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801081740/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-takes-2012-fundraising-lead-with-86m/ |archive-date=Aug 1, 2020 }}</ref> From the beginning of the campaign to December 31, 2011, more than 1.3 million individual donated to the campaign.<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-02-15/presidential-fundraising-Obama-GOP/53106898/1 |title=Obama leads presidential money chase in two-thirds of states |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419113727/http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-02-15/presidential-fundraising-Obama-GOP/53106898/1 |archive-date=April 19, 2012 |website=USA Today |date=February 15, 2012 |access-date=July 30, 2012 |first1=Fredreka |last1=Schouten |first2=Christopher |last2=Schnaars }}</ref> The ] community had donated a record amount so far to the campaign.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ben Smith and Maggie Haberman |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/54539_Page2.html |title=Gay donors fuel President Obama's 2012 campaign |publisher=Politico |date=May 9, 2011 |access-date=September 13, 2011}}</ref> As of March 31, 2012, the campaign had raised $191.7 million.<ref>. Fec.gov. Retrieved July 30, 2012.</ref>
== Fundraising ==
The campaign began accepting online donations on April 4, 2011, the day Obama announced his candidacy. In the first 24 hours after online donations began to be accepted, over 23,000 online donations of $200 or less were made.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/06/obama-re-election-campaign-touts-small-dollar-donations/ | work=CNN | date=April 6, 2011 | title=Obama re-election campaign touts small dollar donations}}</ref> President Obama headlined his first campaign fundraiser in April 2011 in Chicago. He also headlined fundraisers in ], ], and ] in April 2011.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20054010-503544.html | work=CBS News | first=Mark | last=Knoller | title=Obama heads to Chicago for first fundraisers for his 2012 campaign | date=April 14, 2011}}</ref> On April 29, 2011, it was announced that ], the ], would serve as finance chairman.<ref name="finance chair"/> Many sources claim that the campaign may be the first campaign in U.S. history to raise more than one billion dollars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://protopolitics.com/node/96 |title=Obama wants to raise 1 Billion Dollars for 2012 campaign |publisher=Protopolitics.com |date= |accessdate=2011-09-13}}{{dead link|date=April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Kavanagh |first=Tom |url=http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/12/13/obamas-2012-campaign-fundraising-could-top-1-billion/ |title=Obama's 2012 Campaign Fundraising Could Top $1 Billion |publisher=Politicsdaily.com |date=2010-12-13 |accessdate=2011-09-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Jeanne Cummings |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/47596.html |title=Barack Obama's 2012 cash challenge |publisher=Politico.Com |date=2011-01-14 |accessdate=2011-09-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Steve Peoples |url=http://www.rollcall.com/issues/56_98/obama-billion-204192-1.html |title=GOP Has New 2012 Target: Obama's $1 Billion Campaign |publisher=Rollcall.com |date=2011-03-17 |accessdate=2011-09-13}}</ref> In March 2011, Campaign Chairman Jim Messina asked a group of 450 top donors to raise $350,000.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/18/us/politics/18democrats.html | work=The New York Times | first=Jeff | last=Zeleny | title=$350,000 Goal Is Set For Re-election Donors | date=March 17, 2011}}</ref> During the second fundraising quarter of 2011 (the first of the campaign), the campaign raised a record amount of $86,000,000.<ref>{{cite news|author=Chase Davis |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/14/obama-california-fundraisin_n_898320.html?ir=Politics&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000008 |title=Obama's California Fundraisers: How Much Money Exactly? |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date=2011-07-14 |accessdate=2011-09-13}}</ref> As of May 3, 2012, Obama and his team have held 130 fundraisers.<ref>http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/05/obama-easily-switches-into-campaign-mode-for-fundraisers/</ref>


On May 10, 2012, Obama attended a fundraiser in the Los Angeles home of actor ], which raised over $15 million. The fundraiser was initially estimated to raise about $10 million, but after Obama's historic announcement of his support for same-sex marriage, the amount went up significantly. Many believed that the LGBT community and activists would donate historic amounts after the announcement.<ref>. ''The Christian Science Monitor''. Retrieved July 30, 2012.</ref>
More than 550,000 individuals donated towards the campaign in the second quarter of 2011, which is a much larger number than the 180,000 individuals who donated to Obama's 2008 campaign during the first half of 2007.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/07/13/politics/main20079023.shtml | work=CBS News | title=Obama takes 2012 fundraising lead with $86M}}</ref> From the beginning of the campaign to December 31, 2011, more than 1.3 million individual donated to the campaign.<ref>http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-02-15/presidential-fundraising-Obama-GOP/53106898/1</ref>The ] community has donated a record amount so far to the campaign.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ben Smith and Maggie Haberman |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/54539_Page2.html |title=Gay donors fuel President Obama's 2012 campaign |publisher=Politico.Com |date=2011-05-09 |accessdate=2011-09-13}}</ref> As of March 31, 2012, the campaign has raised $191.7 million.<ref>http://www.fec.gov/disclosurep/pnational.do</ref>


Obama's campaign was also supported by ], an ] ] founded by several former Obama campaign officials, but legally prohibited from coordinating with the candidate or his campaign.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.prioritiesusaaction.org/about|work=Priorities USA Action|access-date=July 9, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Draper|first=Robert|title=Can the Democrats Catch Up in the Super-PAC Game?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/magazine/can-the-democrats-catch-up-in-the-super-pac-game.html |access-date=July 9, 2012 |newspaper=]|date=July 5, 2012}}</ref><ref>Grier, Peter (January 18, 2012). . ''The Christian Science Monitor''.</ref>
On May 10, 2012, Obama attended a fundraiser in the Los Angeles home of actor ], which raised over $15 million. The fundraiser was initially estimated to raise about $10 million, but after Obama's historic announcement of his support for same-sex marriage, the amount went up significantly. Many believe that the LGBT community and activists will donate historic amounts after his announcement.<ref>http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/President/2012/0511/Gay-marriage-Clooney-fundraiser-a-hint-of-coming-Obama-money-boom-video</ref>

== Technology ==
The engineering investment of the Obama 2012 campaign was unprecedented, under the leadership of CTO ].<ref>{{cite web|title=When the Nerds Go Marching In|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/11/when-the-nerds-go-marching-in/265325/|publisher=The Atlantic|access-date=November 19, 2016 |author=Alexis Madrigal|date=November 16, 2012}}</ref> Reed helped build a team of developers from tech companies like ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. This approach— hiring technology workers from the tech startups rather than the political realm— was novel.<ref name=hr-wired>{{cite news|last=Madrigal|first=Alexis|title=When the Nerds Go Marching In|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/11/when-the-nerds-go-marching-in/265325/|newspaper=Wired|access-date=8 December 2013|date=16 November 2012}}</ref> A central component of that work was ], a centralized database of electoral information.<ref name=hr-slate>{{cite news|last=Issenberg|first=Sasha|author-link=Sasha Issenberg|title=Obama's White Whale|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/victory_lab/2012/02/project_narwhal_how_a_top_secret_obama_campaign_program_could_change_the_2012_race_.html|newspaper=Slate|access-date=8 December 2013|date=15 February 2012}}</ref>

] served as Chief Analytics Officer, running the 54-person analytics team out of a windowless office known as the 'cave.' His team's predictions were remarkably accurate to the actual election results.<ref name=mit>{{cite news|last=Issenberg|first=Sasha|author-link=Sasha Issenberg|title=How Obama's Team Used Big Data to Rally Voters|url=https://www.technologyreview.com/s/509026/how-obamas-team-used-big-data-to-rally-voters/|newspaper=MIT Technology Review|access-date=19 November 2016|date=19 December 2012}}</ref>

== Getting out the vote ==
]]]

The Obama campaign was highly effective in getting out the vote, in using technology to identify voters, and in capitalizing on growing segments of the voting population.

President Obama won reelection, not by going after independent voters, but by going after emerging groups in the U.S. population. By race, age and gender, voters made clear that America is made up of many parts, and the Obama team captured more of them, and delivered more of them to the polls.<ref>{{cite web|title=Obama Capitalizes On Emerging Voter Groups|url=https://www.npr.org/2012/11/07/164582496/obama-capitalizes-on-emerging-voter-groups|publisher=]|access-date=November 18, 2012 |author=Renee Montqgne|author2=Cokie Roberts|date=November 7, 2012}}</ref>

==Events leading up to the election==

===Presidential debates===
{{Main|2012 United States presidential debates}}

The ] ] (CPD) held four ] for the ], slated for various locations around the ] in October 2012 – three of them involving the ] presidential nominees (later determined to be ] President ] from ] and former ] governor ] of ]), and one involving the vice-presidential nominees (Vice President ] from ] and Representative ] of ]).<ref name=formats>Little, Morgan (July 25, 2012) , '']''. Retrieved July 26, 2012.</ref>

===Hurricane Sandy===
{{Main|Hurricane Sandy|Political impact of Hurricane Sandy}}

] affected the presidential campaign as well as local and state campaigns in storm-damaged areas, as it hit the New England coast a week before the election. New Jersey Governor ], one of ]'s leading supporters, praised President ] and his reaction to the hurricane and toured storm-damaged areas of his state with the president.<ref>{{cite news|last=Horsey|first=David|title=Chris Christie and Hurricane Sandy give Obama a timely boost|url=https://www.latimes.com/news/politics/topoftheticket/la-na-tt-chris-christie-boost-20121031,0,1044954.story|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=November 2, 2012 |date=October 31, 2012}}</ref> Obama signed emergency declarations on October 28 for several states expected to be impacted by Sandy, allowing them to request federal aid and make additional preparations in advance of the storm.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/28/sandy-bringing-life-threatening-storm-surge|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028200031/http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/28/sandy-bringing-life-threatening-storm-surge/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 28, 2012|title=It's watch and wait as Hurricane Sandy approaches|publisher=CNN|access-date=October 29, 2012|date=October 28, 2012}}</ref> According to ] and ], the hurricane and its aftermath ended up helping Obama; the hurricane drew attention away from the campaigns and Obama was able to take a bipartisan position and be "presidential".<ref>{{cite news|last=Camia|first=Catalina|title=Romney: Clinton said Hurricane Sandy helped Obama|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/onpolitics/2012/11/15/romney-clinton-election-sandy/1706831/|work=]|access-date=November 30, 2012 |date=November 15, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Hurricane Sandy helped Obama politically, Karl Rove says|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2012/11/02/hurricane-sandy-helped-obama-politically-karl-rove-says/|newspaper=]|access-date=November 30, 2012 |author=Michael Leahy|author2=Sean Sullivan|date=November 2, 2012}}</ref> The event sparked debates and discussions on climate change, which had been ignored by both parties prior to the event.<ref>{{cite news |title=Transcript of President Obama's News Conference |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/us/politics/running-transcript-of-president-obamas-press-conference.html |access-date=November 14, 2012 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 14, 2012}}</ref>

== Election and victory ==

On November 6, 2012, Obama was re-elected for his second term as President of the United States. He won 65,915,795 popular votes and 332 electoral votes, with two states fewer than in his 2008 victory. In his victory speech in Chicago, he promised to "sit down with" Mitt Romney to discuss a bipartisan future for the United States.<ref>{{cite news|title=President Obama's Victory Speech 2012|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/president-obama-wins-2012-election-victory-speech-17661714|work=]|access-date=November 18, 2012 |date=November 6, 2012}}</ref>

== Structure ==

=== Campaign staff and policy team ===

Many key people from the successful 2008 campaign returned. ], who was in charge of Media in 2008 and who worked in the ] as a ] from 2009 until 2011, returned to Chicago to work on the campaign as the top communications official.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">{{cite news|author=Sam Stein |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/05/obama-2012-campaign-press-secretary_n_845252.html |title=Obama 2012 Campaign Names National Press Secretary |work=The Huffington Post |date=April 15, 2011 |access-date=September 13, 2011}}</ref> ], who worked in the White House as ] for Operations from 2009 until 2011, moved to Chicago to serve as campaign manager.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2011/02/obama_2012_team_in_chicago_mes.html | work=Chicago Sun-Times | title=Obama 2012 team in Chicago: Messina scouting HQ, courting donors}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Kevin Spak |url=http://www.newser.com/story/81680/obama-team-already-planning-for-2012.html |title=Obama Team Already Planning for 2012 |publisher=Newser.com |date=February 24, 2010 |access-date=September 13, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://billionaires.forbes.com/article/06dFdUi7gu8Ib?q=David+Axelrod |title=The World's Billionaires |work=Forbes |access-date=April 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812113154/http://billionaires.forbes.com/article/06dFdUi7gu8Ib?q=David+Axelrod |archive-date=August 12, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ], the ], served as finance chairman.<ref name="finance chair">{{cite news|author=1310 News|title=Obama taps fundraiser, ambassador to Sweden as 2012 campaign finance chairman|url=http://www.1310news.com/news/world/article/219483--obama-taps-fundraiser-ambassador-to-sweden-as-2012-campaign-finance-chairman|access-date=May 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721203933/http://www.1310news.com/news/world/article/219483--obama-taps-fundraiser-ambassador-to-sweden-as-2012-campaign-finance-chairman|archive-date=July 21, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> ], who worked at the ] as an executive director, was named deputy campaign manager.<ref name="RollCall">Trygstad, Kyle (April 7, 2011) {{cite web|url=http://www.rollcall.com/issues/56_107/-204685-1.html |title=Shop Talk: Obama's 2012 Campaign Team Is Shaping Up |location=United States |publisher=] |access-date=May 2, 2011}}</ref> The other deputy campaign manager was ], who was the 2008 finance director and was briefly the ].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/05/AR2011030502069.html?wprss=rss_politics | newspaper=] | first=Dan | last=Balz | title=Obama's 2012 reelection team gets moving | date=March 5, 2011}}</ref>

] served as national press secretary. LaBolt worked for ]'s ], as Obama's senate press secretary, for the 2008 campaign, as a deputy ], and for ] ],<ref name="RollCall" /> Katie Hogan and Adam Fetcher, who each worked on the 2008 campaign, served as deputy press secretaries.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/119705-interior-spokesman-joins-obama-campaign/ | work=] | first=Ben | last=Geman | title=Interior spokesman joins Obama campaign | date=July 16, 2012}}</ref> Rahm Emanuel was expected to play a role in the campaign. Emanuel served as ] from January 2009 until October 2010 and worked on President ]'s successful ] and ] campaigns.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Whos-Running-the-Re-Election-Campaign-119185354.html |title=Who's Running Obama's Re-Election Campaign? |publisher=NBC Chicago |date=September 8, 2011 |access-date=September 13, 2011}}</ref> Rufus Gifford served as Finance Director, Elizabeth Lowery served as Deputy Finance Director, ] served as National Field Director, Marlon Marshall served as Deputy National Field Director, ] served as ] Director, and Elizabeth Jarvis-Shean served as Research Director.<ref name="RollCall" /> Katherine Archuleta was named political director.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

==== Role of vice president Biden ====
In October 2010, Biden said Obama had asked him to remain as his running mate for the ],<ref name="nyt1013102">{{#invoke:cite news||last=Stolberg|first=Sheryl Gay|date=October 12, 2010|title=Vice President Tries to Energize Democrats|newspaper=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/13/us/politics/13biden.html|access-date=October 14, 2010|archive-date=October 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028044617/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/13/us/politics/13biden.html|url-status=live}}</ref> but with Obama's popularity on the decline, ] ] conducted some secret polling and focus group research in late 2011 on the idea of replacing Biden on the ticket with Hillary Clinton.<ref name="nyt-dd-replace">{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Jonathan |date=October 31, 2013 |title=Book Details Obama Aides' Talks About Replacing Biden on 2012 Ticket |newspaper=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/01/us/politics/book-details-consideration-of-replacing-biden-on-2012-ticket.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103082553/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/01/us/politics/book-details-consideration-of-replacing-biden-on-2012-ticket.html |archive-date=January 3, 2021}}</ref> The notion was dropped when the results showed no appreciable improvement for Obama,<ref name="nyt-dd-replace" /> and White House officials later said Obama had never entertained the idea.<ref>{{cite news |last=Allen |first=Jonathan |date=November 1, 2013 |title=W.H.: Obama never considered dropping Joe Biden |newspaper=] |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/politico44/2013/11/wh-obama-never-considered-dropping-joe-biden-176520 |url-status=live |access-date=November 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104143531/http://www.politico.com/politico44/2013/11/wh-obama-never-considered-dropping-biden-176520.html |archive-date=November 4, 2013}}</ref>
]
Biden's May 2012 statement that he was "absolutely comfortable" with ] gained considerable public attention in comparison to Obama's position, which had been described as "evolving".<ref>{{cite news |last=Parsons |first=Christi |date=May 6, 2012 |title=Biden 'comfortable' with equal rights for gays who wed |newspaper=] |url=https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2012-may-06-la-na-biden-gay-marriage-20120507-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=May 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526082737/https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2012-may-06-la-na-biden-gay-marriage-20120507-story.html |archive-date=May 26, 2019}}</ref> Biden made his statement without administration consent, and Obama and his aides were quite irked, since Obama had planned to shift position several months later, in the build-up to the party convention, and since Biden had previously counseled the president to avoid the issue lest key Catholic voters be offended.<ref name="nyt0508122">{{#invoke:cite news||last=Leibovich|first=Mark|date=May 7, 2012|title=For a Blunt Biden, an Uneasy Supporting Role|page=1|newspaper=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/us/politics/for-a-blunt-biden-an-uneasy-supporting-role.html|access-date=January 24, 2021|archive-date=January 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103081748/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/us/politics/for-a-blunt-biden-an-uneasy-supporting-role.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ap051012">{{cite news |date=May 10, 2012 |title=AP source: Biden apologizes to Obama over comments |publisher=] |agency=] |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/ap-source-biden-apologizes-to-obama-over-comments |url-status=live |access-date=May 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006123920/https://www.foxnews.com/us/ap-source-biden-apologizes-to-obama-over-comments |archive-date=October 6, 2018}}</ref><ref name="pol-ebook">{{cite news |last=Thrush |first=Glenn |date=August 20, 2012 |title=Politico e-book: Obama campaign roiled by conflict |newspaper=] |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/08/politico-e-book-obama-campaign-roiled-by-conflict-079867 |url-status=live |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103084846/https://www.politico.com/story/2012/08/politico-e-book-obama-campaign-roiled-by-conflict-079867 |archive-date=January 3, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Thursh |first=Glenn |date=August 23, 2012 |title=6 hidden fault lines in President Obama's campaign |newspaper=] |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/08/6-hidden-obama-campaign-fault-lines-080028 |url-status=live |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208190849/https://www.politico.com/story/2012/08/6-hidden-obama-campaign-fault-lines-080028 |archive-date=December 8, 2020}}</ref> Gay rights advocates seized upon Biden's statement,<ref name="ap051012" /> and within days, Obama announced that he too supported same-sex marriage, an action in part forced by Biden's remarks.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Calmes |first1=Jackie |last2=Baker |first2=Peter |date=May 9, 2012 |title=Obama Says Same-Sex Marriage Should Be Legal |newspaper=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/10/us/politics/obama-says-same-sex-marriage-should-be-legal.html |url-status=live |access-date=May 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510014102/http://www.nytimes.com//2012/05/10/us/politics/obama-says-same-sex-marriage-should-be-legal.html |archive-date=May 10, 2012}}</ref> Biden apologized to Obama in private for having spoken out,<ref name="pol-ebook" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Pace |first=Julie |date=May 10, 2012 |title=Joe Biden Reportedly Apologized To Obama Over Gay Marriage Comments |work=] |agency=] |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/10/joe-biden-gay-marriage-apology_n_1507939.html |url-status=dead |access-date=May 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528233546/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/10/joe-biden-gay-marriage-apology_n_1507939.html |archive-date=May 28, 2013}}</ref> while Obama acknowledged publicly it had been done from the heart.<ref name="ap051012" /> The incident showed that Biden still struggled at times with ],<ref name="nyt0508122" /> as ''Time'' wrote, "Everyone knows Biden's greatest strength is also his greatest weakness."<ref name="time-mo">{{cite news |last=Scherer |first=Michael |date=June 11, 2012 |title=Mo Joe |pages=26–30 |magazine=]}}</ref> Relations were also strained between the vice presidential and presidential campaigns when Biden appeared to use his position to bolster fundraising contacts for a possible run for president in ], and he ended up being excluded from Obama campaign strategy meetings.<ref name="nyt-dd-replace" />

The Obama campaign nevertheless valued Biden as a retail-level politician who could connect with disaffected blue-collar workers and rural residents, and he had a heavy schedule of appearances in swing states as the ] began in earnest in spring 2012.<ref name="time-be-joe">{{cite news |last=Von Drehle |first=David |author-link=David Von Drehle |date=September 10, 2012 |title=Let There Be Joe |pages=41–43 |magazine=] |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2123322,00.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109162947/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2123322,00.html |archive-date=November 9, 2020}}</ref><ref name="time-mo" /> An August 2012 remark before a mixed-race audience that Republican proposals to relax Wall Street regulations would "put y'all back in chains" led to a similar analysis of Biden's face-to-face campaigning abilities versus his tendency to go off track.<ref name="time-be-joe" /><ref name="lat-offt">{{cite news |last=Memoli |first=Michael A. |date=August 17, 2012 |title=Biden's unscripted moments keep campaign on its toes |newspaper=] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2012-aug-17-la-na-biden-20120817-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103082611/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2012-aug-17-la-na-biden-20120817-story.html |archive-date=January 3, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Jonathan |date=August 16, 2012 |title=Mission Impossible: Managing Joe Biden |newspaper=] |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/08/mission-impossible-managing-biden-079776 |url-status=live |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103084811/https://www.politico.com/story/2012/08/mission-impossible-managing-biden-079776 |archive-date=January 3, 2021}}</ref> ] wrote that Biden often went too far and "Along with the familiar Washington mix of neediness and overconfidence, Biden's brain is wired for more than the usual amount of goofiness."<ref name="time-be-joe" />

Biden was nominated for a second term as vice president at the ] in September.<ref>{{cite news |last=Siegel |first=Elyse |date=September 6, 2012 |title=Beau Biden Speech Kicks Of Motion To Nominate Father Joe Biden For Vice President |work=] |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/beau-biden-speech-read-th_n_1862997 |url-status=live |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103082621/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/beau-biden-speech-read-th_n_1862997 |archive-date=January 3, 2021}}</ref> Debating his Republican counterpart, Representative ], in the ] on October 11 he made a spirited and emotional defense of the Obama administration's record and energetically attacked the Republican ticket.<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Brien |first=Michael |date=October 11, 2012 |title=Biden plays aggressor in debate as Ryan makes GOP case |work=] |url=http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/11/14376267-biden-plays-aggressor-in-debate-as-ryan-argues-gop-case |url-status=live |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928140933/http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/11/14376267-biden-plays-aggressor-in-debate-as-ryan-argues-gop-case |archive-date=September 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=October 12, 2012 |title=Sparks fly as Biden, Ryan face off in feisty vice presidential debate |publisher=] |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sparks-fly-as-biden-ryan-face-off-in-feisty-vice-presidential-debate |url-status=live |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103082631/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sparks-fly-as-biden-ryan-face-off-in-feisty-vice-presidential-debate |archive-date=January 3, 2021}}</ref>

{{anchor|Co-chairs}}

===Campaign co-chairs===
In February 2012, Obama for America (OFA) announced its list of campaign co-chairs:<ref>. ''Politico''. Retrieved July 30, 2012.</ref>
{{div col}}
#Lynnette Acosta – OFA volunteer leader from Florida
#] – CEO of ]
#] – US Senator from Colorado
#] – ]
#] – ] and former US Senator from Rhode Island
#Ann Cherry – Retired teacher and OFA volunteer leader from North Carolina
#] – US Representative from the 32nd District of California
#] – US Representative from the 5th District of Missouri
#] – Former ] to President Obama, former ]
#Maria Elena Durazo – Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, ]
#] – US Senator from Illinois
#] – ]
#]– Former US Senator from Wisconsin
#] – US Representative from the 20th District of Texas
#Loretta Harper – High School Counselor and OFA volunteer leader from Nevada
#] – ]
#Sai Iyer – Student at ] and OFA volunteer leader from Virginia
#] – Author, President of the ]
#] – Actress
#Felesia Martin – OFA volunteer leader from Wisconsin
#] – ] bishop
#] – ]
#] – Actor, former White House Associate Director for the ]
#] – Retired ] ]
#] – ]
#] – Former ] and ]
#Elaine Price – Retired Ohio resident and OFA volunteer leader from Ohio
#] – founder and CEO of PSP Capital Partners
#John Register – ] Veteran and Paralympian
#] – US representative from the ]
#] – US Senator from New Hampshire
#] – qqPresident of the ]
#] – Partner at DLA Piper LLP and past chairman of the ]
#] – former ]
#] – ]
{{div col end}}

=== Other initiatives ===
* '''Truth Team''' – growing out of the ''AttackWatch'' initiative (launched in September 2011) and '']'' (launched for the 2008 campaign), organized as a "rapid response team" to both counter instances of anti-Obama rhetoric and promote Obama's record with web video and ]s.
* '''GottaRegister''' – site encouraging ].
* '''GottaVote''' – site providing materials to prepare voters to vote on primary days and ].
* '''Romney Economics''' – critical attack on Mitt Romney's record as CEO of ] and as governor of ].


== Public perception == == Public perception ==
Line 83: Line 144:


=== Opinion polling === === Opinion polling ===
{{Main|Nationwide opinion polling for the United States presidential election, 2012|Statewide opinion polling for the United States presidential election, 2012}} {{Main|Nationwide opinion polling for the 2012 United States presidential election|Statewide opinion polling for the 2012 United States presidential election}}
An August 2011 ] poll found that in a hypothetical race between President Obama and a generic Republican, 48% backed the generic Republican and 40% backed the President.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/generic_presidential_ballot/election_2012_generic_presidential_ballot |title=Election 2012: Generic Presidential Ballot |publisher=Rasmussenreports.com |date=2011-09-06 |accessdate=2011-09-13}}</ref> In a March 2011 ] poll, Obama held an advantage of 47% to 37%, similar to the lead that former President ] held over an unnamed Democrat in 2003 and larger than the lead former President ] held over an unnamed Republican in 1995.<ref>{{cite web|author=Publications |url=http://people-press.org/2011/03/23/obama-tests-well-at-start-of-reelection-run/ |title=Obama Tests Well at Start of Reelection Run &#124; Pew Research Center for the People and the Press |publisher=People-press.org |date=2011-03-23 |accessdate=2012-04-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/behind-the-numbers/post/2012-the-general-election-and-gop-primaries/2011/03/23/ABNlnfJB_blog.html | work=The Washington Post | date=March 23, 2011 | title=2012: Obama runs ahead in generic Pew poll}}</ref>


In a March 2011 ] poll, Obama held an advantage of 47% to 37%, similar to the lead that former president ] held over an unnamed Democrat in 2003 and larger than the lead former president ] held over an unnamed Republican in 1995.<ref>{{cite web|author=Publications |url=http://people-press.org/2011/03/23/obama-tests-well-at-start-of-reelection-run/ |title=Obama Tests Well at Start of Reelection Run &#124; Pew Research Center for the People and the Press |publisher=People-press.org |date=March 23, 2011 |access-date=April 12, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/behind-the-numbers/post/2012-the-general-election-and-gop-primaries/2011/03/23/ABNlnfJB_blog.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=March 23, 2011 | title=2012: Obama runs ahead in generic Pew poll | first=Peyton M. | last=Craighill}}</ref> An August 2011 ] poll found that in a hypothetical race between President Obama and a generic Republican, 48% backed the generic Republican and 40% backed the President.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/generic_presidential_ballot/election_2012_generic_presidential_ballot |title=Election 2012: Generic Presidential Ballot |publisher=Rasmussenreports.com |date=September 6, 2011 |access-date=September 13, 2011}}</ref>
In February 2012, Obama held a sizable lead over both Mitt Romney (53-43) and Rick Santorum (53-42) nationally.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/73308.html | work=Politico | date=February 27, 2012 | title=2012: Battleground Poll: GOP president’s race takes toll, Obama inches up}}</ref> By the end of March 2012, Obama's lead over Romney had narrowed to approximately 2.4% (46.6-44.2) nationally.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html | work=Real Clear Politics RCP Average (3/24-4/13) | date=April 13, 2012 | title=General Election: Romney v Obama}}</ref>

In February 2012, Obama held a sizable lead over both Mitt Romney (53–43) and Rick Santorum (53–42) nationally.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/73308.html | work=Politico | date=February 27, 2012 | title=2012: Battleground Poll: GOP president's race takes toll, Obama inches up}}</ref> By the end of March 2012, Obama's lead over Romney had narrowed to approximately 2.4% (46.6–44.2) nationally.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html | work=Real Clear Politics RCP Average (3/24 – 4/13) | date=April 13, 2012 | title=General Election: Romney v Obama}}</ref> An August 2012 ]/] poll found that Obama led Romney 52% to 45%.<ref>{{cite news|title=CNN Poll: Obama Leads Romney 52–45%|url=http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/08/09/cnn-poll-obama-leads-romney-52-45/|access-date=August 10, 2012 |newspaper=CBS Miami|date=August 9, 2012}}</ref> A ] poll conducted nearly the same time placed the two candidates 49% to 40%, with Obama in the lead.<ref>{{cite news|last=Blanton|first=Dana|title=Fox News poll: Obama's lead grows as Romney's support slips|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/08/09/fox-news-poll-obama-lead-grows-as-romney-support-slips/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120809222117/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/08/09/fox-news-poll-obama-lead-grows-as-romney-support-slips/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 9, 2012|access-date=August 10, 2012 |publisher=Fox News Channel|date=August 9, 2012}}</ref>


=== Endorsements === === Endorsements ===
{{Main|List of Barack Obama presidential campaign endorsements, 2012}} {{Main|List of Barack Obama 2012 presidential campaign endorsements}}


== See also == == See also ==
{{Portal|Liberalism|Politics|United States|2010s}}
*]
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*]
*]
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== References == == References ==
{{reflist|30em}} {{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book|first1=John|last1=Heilemann|author-link=John Heilemann|first2=Mark|last2=Halperin|author-link2=Mark Halperin|title=Double Down: Game Change 2012|publisher=]|location=New York|year=2013|isbn=978-1594204401|title-link=Double Down: Game Change 2012}}


== External links == == External links ==
*
*, official campaign site
* , official campaign site {{small|(Archived)}}
*{{CongLinks | congbio = o000167 | votesmart = 9490 | washpo = Barack_Obama | govtrack = 400629 | c-span = barackobama | ontheissues = Barack_Obama.htm | surge = | legistorm = 76/Sen_Barack_Obama.html | fec = S4IL00180 | opensecrets = N00009638 | followthemoney = 17677 | c-span = barackobama | rose = 233 | imdb = 1682433 | nyt = o/barack_obama | guardian = world/barack-obama | worldcat = lccn-n94-112934 | nndb = 208/000055043 | ballot = | findagrave = }}
* {{CongLinks | congbio=o000167 | votesmart=9490 | fec=S4IL00180 | congress= }}<!-- Links formerly displayed via the {{CongLinks}} template:
* at ]
* at ]
* at LegiStorm.com
* at the National Institute for Money in State Politics
* at ]
* in libraries (] catalog)
* on ] programs
* on ]
* at the ]
* at '']''
* at '']''
* -->

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Latest revision as of 23:07, 9 November 2024

American political campaign

Obama for America

2012 Obama–Biden campaign logo
Campaign2012 Democratic primaries
2012 US presidential election
CandidateBarack Obama
44th President of the United States
(2009–2017)
Joe Biden
47th vice president of the United States
(2009–2017)
AffiliationDemocratic Party
StatusAnnounced: April 4, 2011
Presumptive nominee: April 3, 2012
Official nominee: September 5, 2012
Won election: November 6, 2012
Inaugurated: January 20, 2013
Headquarters130 East Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60601
Key peopleJim Messina (campaign chairman)
David Axelrod (senior strategist)
Harper Reed (chief technology officer)
Michael Slaby (chief integration and innovation officer)
Stephanie Cutter (deputy campaign manager)
Brent Colburn (communications director)
Matthew Barzun (finance chairman)
Ben LaBolt (national press secretary)
Rufus Gifford (finance director)
ReceiptsUS$738,503,770 (2012-12-31)
SloganForward.
Middle Class First
Website
www.barackobama.com (archived)
2012 U.S. presidential election
Democratic Party
Republican Party
Minor parties
Related races
← 2008 2012 2016 →
This article is part of
a series aboutBarack Obama

Personal
Illinois State Senator and U.S. Senator from Illinois
44th President of the United States
Tenure
Policies
Appointments
Presidential campaigns
Barack Obama's signature Seal of the President of the United States
This article is part of
a series aboutJoe Biden

Personal
U.S. Senator from Delaware
47th Vice President of the United States
Vice presidential campaigns
46th President of the United States
Incumbent
Tenure
Policies
Appointments
Presidential campaigns
Joe Biden's signature Seal of the President of the United States

On April 4, 2011, Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, announced his candidacy for re-election as president. On September 5, 2012, he again became the nominee of the Democratic Party for the 2012 presidential election. Along with his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, Obama was opposed in the general election by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, along with various minor candidates from other parties. The election took place on Tuesday, November 6, 2012.

Obama's campaign headquarters was in Chicago and key members of his successful campaign in 2008, such as Jim Messina and David Axelrod, returned to staff it. On the day of the announcement, the campaign released a promotional video showing supporters of Obama organizing for the re-election effort. As The Guardian newspaper noted, this was the first US presidential reelection campaign to use Facebook and Twitter for promotion.

Between early-2011 and June 30, 2012, the Obama campaign and supporters spent approximately $400 million, according to the Federal Election Commission. Obama won his reelection bid by a margin of 51.06 to 47.21%. This was the first time since 1944, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt won re-election, that a Democratic president had won by a majority of the electoral votes and over 51% of the popular vote twice.

Early stages

See also: Presidency of Barack Obama and Political positions of Barack Obama

On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States. On April 4, 2011, President Obama officially announced his candidacy for re-election. The announcement was made through an online video titled "It Begins With Us", posted on his campaign website. The President also filled out official forms with the FEC at that time.

President Obama did not face a significant challenge in the Democratic primaries, with no other candidate on the ballot in all but seven states. On April 3, 2012, Obama won the Maryland and District of Columbia primaries, giving him more than the required 2,778 delegates to secure the nomination. On April 30, 2012, the campaign announced that its slogan would be "Forward".

The campaign was based in Chicago in One Prudential Plaza, instead of in Washington, D.C., where all other modern incumbent presidents have had their re-election headquarters. The decision to base the campaign outside of Washington was said have been taken so as to ensure grassroots support for re-election.

Fundraising

Main article: Fundraising for the 2012 United States presidential election

The campaign began accepting online donations on April 4, 2011, the day Obama announced his candidacy. In the first 24 hours after online donations began to be accepted, over 23,000 online donations of $200 or less were made. President Obama headlined his first campaign fundraiser in April 2011 in Chicago. He also headlined fundraisers in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York in April 2011. On April 29, 2011, it was announced that Matthew Barzun, the United States Ambassador to Sweden, would serve as finance chairman. Many sources claim that the campaign may be the first campaign in US history to raise more than one billion dollars. In March 2011, Campaign Chairman Jim Messina asked a group of 450 top donors to raise $350,000. During the second fundraising quarter of 2011 (the first of the campaign), the campaign raised a record amount of $86,000,000. As of May 3, 2012, Obama and his team have held 130 fundraisers.

More than 550,000 individuals donated towards the campaign in the second quarter of 2011, which is a much larger number than the 180,000 individuals who donated to Obama's 2008 campaign during the first half of 2007. From the beginning of the campaign to December 31, 2011, more than 1.3 million individual donated to the campaign. The LGBT community had donated a record amount so far to the campaign. As of March 31, 2012, the campaign had raised $191.7 million.

On May 10, 2012, Obama attended a fundraiser in the Los Angeles home of actor George Clooney, which raised over $15 million. The fundraiser was initially estimated to raise about $10 million, but after Obama's historic announcement of his support for same-sex marriage, the amount went up significantly. Many believed that the LGBT community and activists would donate historic amounts after the announcement.

Obama's campaign was also supported by Priorities USA Action, an independent expenditure PAC founded by several former Obama campaign officials, but legally prohibited from coordinating with the candidate or his campaign.

Technology

The engineering investment of the Obama 2012 campaign was unprecedented, under the leadership of CTO Harper Reed. Reed helped build a team of developers from tech companies like Twitter, Google, Facebook, Craigslist, Quora, Orbitz and Threadless. This approach— hiring technology workers from the tech startups rather than the political realm— was novel. A central component of that work was Project Narwhal, a centralized database of electoral information.

Dan Wagner served as Chief Analytics Officer, running the 54-person analytics team out of a windowless office known as the 'cave.' His team's predictions were remarkably accurate to the actual election results.

Getting out the vote

Obama participating in a phone bank Election Day

The Obama campaign was highly effective in getting out the vote, in using technology to identify voters, and in capitalizing on growing segments of the voting population.

President Obama won reelection, not by going after independent voters, but by going after emerging groups in the U.S. population. By race, age and gender, voters made clear that America is made up of many parts, and the Obama team captured more of them, and delivered more of them to the polls.

Events leading up to the election

Presidential debates

Main article: 2012 United States presidential debates

The bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) held four debates for the 2012 US presidential general election, slated for various locations around the United States in October 2012 – three of them involving the major party presidential nominees (later determined to be Democratic President Barack Obama from Illinois and former Republican governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts), and one involving the vice-presidential nominees (Vice President Joe Biden from Delaware and Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin).

Hurricane Sandy

Main articles: Hurricane Sandy and Political impact of Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy affected the presidential campaign as well as local and state campaigns in storm-damaged areas, as it hit the New England coast a week before the election. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, one of Mitt Romney's leading supporters, praised President Barack Obama and his reaction to the hurricane and toured storm-damaged areas of his state with the president. Obama signed emergency declarations on October 28 for several states expected to be impacted by Sandy, allowing them to request federal aid and make additional preparations in advance of the storm. According to Karl Rove and Bill Clinton, the hurricane and its aftermath ended up helping Obama; the hurricane drew attention away from the campaigns and Obama was able to take a bipartisan position and be "presidential". The event sparked debates and discussions on climate change, which had been ignored by both parties prior to the event.

Election and victory

On November 6, 2012, Obama was re-elected for his second term as President of the United States. He won 65,915,795 popular votes and 332 electoral votes, with two states fewer than in his 2008 victory. In his victory speech in Chicago, he promised to "sit down with" Mitt Romney to discuss a bipartisan future for the United States.

Structure

Campaign staff and policy team

Many key people from the successful 2008 campaign returned. David Axelrod, who was in charge of Media in 2008 and who worked in the White House as a Senior Advisor to the President from 2009 until 2011, returned to Chicago to work on the campaign as the top communications official. Jim Messina, who worked in the White House as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations from 2009 until 2011, moved to Chicago to serve as campaign manager. Matthew Barzun, the United States Ambassador to Sweden, served as finance chairman. Jennifer O'Malley Dillon, who worked at the Democratic National Committee as an executive director, was named deputy campaign manager. The other deputy campaign manager was Julianna Smoot, who was the 2008 finance director and was briefly the White House Social Secretary.

Ben LaBolt served as national press secretary. LaBolt worked for Sherrod Brown's 2006 Senate campaign, as Obama's senate press secretary, for the 2008 campaign, as a deputy White House Press Secretary, and for Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel, Katie Hogan and Adam Fetcher, who each worked on the 2008 campaign, served as deputy press secretaries. Rahm Emanuel was expected to play a role in the campaign. Emanuel served as White House Chief of Staff from January 2009 until October 2010 and worked on President Bill Clinton's successful 1992 and 1996 campaigns. Rufus Gifford served as Finance Director, Elizabeth Lowery served as Deputy Finance Director, Jeremy Bird served as National Field Director, Marlon Marshall served as Deputy National Field Director, Mitch Stewart served as battleground state Director, and Elizabeth Jarvis-Shean served as Research Director. Katherine Archuleta was named political director.

Role of vice president Biden

In October 2010, Biden said Obama had asked him to remain as his running mate for the 2012 presidential election, but with Obama's popularity on the decline, White House Chief of Staff William M. Daley conducted some secret polling and focus group research in late 2011 on the idea of replacing Biden on the ticket with Hillary Clinton. The notion was dropped when the results showed no appreciable improvement for Obama, and White House officials later said Obama had never entertained the idea.

Biden and Obama, July 2012

Biden's May 2012 statement that he was "absolutely comfortable" with same-sex marriage gained considerable public attention in comparison to Obama's position, which had been described as "evolving". Biden made his statement without administration consent, and Obama and his aides were quite irked, since Obama had planned to shift position several months later, in the build-up to the party convention, and since Biden had previously counseled the president to avoid the issue lest key Catholic voters be offended. Gay rights advocates seized upon Biden's statement, and within days, Obama announced that he too supported same-sex marriage, an action in part forced by Biden's remarks. Biden apologized to Obama in private for having spoken out, while Obama acknowledged publicly it had been done from the heart. The incident showed that Biden still struggled at times with message discipline, as Time wrote, "Everyone knows Biden's greatest strength is also his greatest weakness." Relations were also strained between the vice presidential and presidential campaigns when Biden appeared to use his position to bolster fundraising contacts for a possible run for president in 2016, and he ended up being excluded from Obama campaign strategy meetings.

The Obama campaign nevertheless valued Biden as a retail-level politician who could connect with disaffected blue-collar workers and rural residents, and he had a heavy schedule of appearances in swing states as the reelection campaign began in earnest in spring 2012. An August 2012 remark before a mixed-race audience that Republican proposals to relax Wall Street regulations would "put y'all back in chains" led to a similar analysis of Biden's face-to-face campaigning abilities versus his tendency to go off track. Time magazine wrote that Biden often went too far and "Along with the familiar Washington mix of neediness and overconfidence, Biden's brain is wired for more than the usual amount of goofiness."

Biden was nominated for a second term as vice president at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in September. Debating his Republican counterpart, Representative Paul Ryan, in the vice-presidential debate on October 11 he made a spirited and emotional defense of the Obama administration's record and energetically attacked the Republican ticket.

Campaign co-chairs

In February 2012, Obama for America (OFA) announced its list of campaign co-chairs:

  1. Lynnette Acosta – OFA volunteer leader from Florida
  2. Marc Benioff – CEO of Salesforce.com
  3. Michael Bennet – US Senator from Colorado
  4. Julian CastroMayor of San Antonio
  5. Lincoln ChafeeGovernor and former US Senator from Rhode Island
  6. Ann Cherry – Retired teacher and OFA volunteer leader from North Carolina
  7. Judy Chu – US Representative from the 32nd District of California
  8. Emanuel Cleaver – US Representative from the 5th District of Missouri
  9. Bill Daley – Former White House Chief of Staff to President Obama, former United States Secretary of Commerce
  10. Maria Elena Durazo – Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL–CIO
  11. Dick Durbin – US Senator from Illinois
  12. Rahm EmanuelMayor of Chicago
  13. Russ Feingold– Former US Senator from Wisconsin
  14. Charles A. Gonzalez – US Representative from the 20th District of Texas
  15. Loretta Harper – High School Counselor and OFA volunteer leader from Nevada
  16. Kamala HarrisAttorney General of California
  17. Sai Iyer – Student at Virginia Commonwealth University and OFA volunteer leader from Virginia
  18. Caroline Kennedy – Author, President of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation
  19. Eva Longoria – Actress
  20. Felesia Martin – OFA volunteer leader from Wisconsin
  21. Vashti Murphy McKenzieAfrican Methodist Episcopal bishop
  22. Tom MillerIowa Attorney General
  23. Kalpen Modi – Actor, former White House Associate Director for the Office of Public Engagement
  24. John Nathman – Retired United States Navy Admiral
  25. Deval PatrickGovernor of Massachusetts
  26. Federico Peña – Former United States Secretary of Transportation and United States Secretary of Energy
  27. Elaine Price – Retired Ohio resident and OFA volunteer leader from Ohio
  28. Penny Pritzker – founder and CEO of PSP Capital Partners
  29. John Register – US Army Veteran and Paralympian
  30. Jan Schakowsky – US representative from the 9th District of Illinois
  31. Jeanne Shaheen – US Senator from New Hampshire
  32. Joe Solmonese – qqPresident of the Human Rights Campaign
  33. Alan Solow – Partner at DLA Piper LLP and past chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
  34. Ted Strickland – former governor of Ohio
  35. Antonio VillaraigosaMayor of Los Angeles

Other initiatives

  • Truth Team – growing out of the AttackWatch initiative (launched in September 2011) and Fight the Smears (launched for the 2008 campaign), organized as a "rapid response team" to both counter instances of anti-Obama rhetoric and promote Obama's record with web video and infographics.
  • GottaRegister – site encouraging voter registration.
  • GottaVote – site providing materials to prepare voters to vote on primary days and Election Day.
  • Romney Economics – critical attack on Mitt Romney's record as CEO of Bain Capital and as governor of Massachusetts.

Public perception

Main article: Presidency of Barack Obama § Approval ratings and opinion

Opinion polling

Main articles: Nationwide opinion polling for the 2012 United States presidential election and Statewide opinion polling for the 2012 United States presidential election

In a March 2011 Pew poll, Obama held an advantage of 47% to 37%, similar to the lead that former president George W. Bush held over an unnamed Democrat in 2003 and larger than the lead former president Bill Clinton held over an unnamed Republican in 1995. An August 2011 Rasmussen poll found that in a hypothetical race between President Obama and a generic Republican, 48% backed the generic Republican and 40% backed the President.

In February 2012, Obama held a sizable lead over both Mitt Romney (53–43) and Rick Santorum (53–42) nationally. By the end of March 2012, Obama's lead over Romney had narrowed to approximately 2.4% (46.6–44.2) nationally. An August 2012 CNN/ORC poll found that Obama led Romney 52% to 45%. A Fox News poll conducted nearly the same time placed the two candidates 49% to 40%, with Obama in the lead.

Endorsements

Main article: List of Barack Obama 2012 presidential campaign endorsements

See also

References

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