To what extent does the evidence contained in these sources support the viewpoint above (20)

The first component of the first part of the viewpoint states, “ the democrats clearly won the 2012 elections by convincing defeating the Republicans at every level.”

Source A helps to show this by providing information from presidential elections. It shows that the democrat candidate clearly won the presidential election as they had 332 electoral college votes compared to the republicans 206 electoral college votes. Source A also shows that Obama won with just over 50% of the votes in comparison to Mitt Romney’s 47.2% of the votes. 

This is supported by evidence that can be found in Source B which identifies election data for the senate. This evidence shows that the democrats defeated the republicans in order to keep control of the senate by winning 55 seats opposed to the Republicans 45 seats, this therefore meant that the democrats were able to gain 2 seats to increased their majority.

Source B further highlights data from the 2012 election within the House of Representatives. The data shown in source B shows that while the democrats gained 8 seats within the House of Representatives they were still overshadowed by the Republicans. This meant that the republicans won the election of House of representatives therefore beating the democrats with 234 seats compared to the democrats 201 seats. 

Considering both the presidency and the senate elections we can say that the democrats clearly won the 2012 election, although in some aspects of the share of the vote within the presidential election this may not be seen as convincing. However while the democrats did gain seats within the House of Representatives the democrats did lose the House of Representatives.

The second component of the first part of the viewpoint to the performance of the democrats in 2012 being almost as impressive as in 2008.

This is shown by evidence in source A as it provides information in relation to the presidential election. This is because in 2008 the democrats won the presidency by a larger margin than in 2012. Thus meaning that the democrats had a greater share of the votes by getting 52.9% of the votes and winning by a larger margin in the electoral college votes by 365 to 172 compared to the republicans 332 to 206.

Linking in with this is evidence provided by source B which identifies election data for the Senate. The evidence shows that the democrats had a stronger performance in 2008 as they elected a higher number of senators electing 59 senators compared to the republicans 55. The democrats also gained more seats in the House of Representatives, gaining 8 in 2008 compare to gaining only 2 in 2012.

Source B further highlights data for the elections held within the House of Representatives. The data from source B shows that the democrats easily won in the House of Representatives during 2008. This was because the democrats had 257 members compared to the republicans 178 members. The democrats also gained 21 members in 2008 in the House of Representatives compared to the 8 members gain they won in 2012, when they didn’t win the House of Representatives. 

Upon analysis, within every aspect the performance of the democrats was far less impressive than in 2008. This was because in 2012 they got a smaller share of the votes in the presidential election as well as winning a smaller amount of the electoral college votes. Furthermore in 2012 the Democrats had a smaller majority in the senate and won less seats than they did originally in 2008, they further lost the House of Representatives in 2012 against the republicans with having fewer seats won. 

Overall the democrats clearly won the senate in 2012 and also won victory in the presidential election even though Obama just won with only over 50% of the total votes. However it is apparent that Obama did convincingly win the electoral college votes. While on balance the democrats did lose the House of Representatives to the republicans, therefore showing a defeat against the democrats. Therefore overall upon further analysis it cannot be said that the democrats convincingly defeated the republicans at every level; while they were victorious at certain levels but not all, in addition the presidential election also being seen as in matters not to be convincing due to the share of the votes with the republicans.

In evaluation the performance of the democratic party was marginally less impressive than their performance in the 2008 presidential race as they got less votes and won by a smaller margin in the electoral college votes than previously in 2008. In terms of the senate and the House of Representatives they too won less seats than they originally did in 2008 and gained less. During the 2008 race the democrats won all 3 elections however during the 2012 race the democrats won only 2. Therefore overall it can be stated that the democrats 2012 performance was not impressive as it was a worse performance than the 2008 one as they lost the House of representatives to the republican party therefore only winning the presidency. 

The first component of the second part of the viewpoint states that, “In the 2012 presidential election Barack Obama defeated his Republican opponent Mitt Romney by decisive margins across every area”. This is shown in source C which gives information showing the regions. Obama beat Romney with immense ease in both the east and the west even though he did get less than half of the votes in the west. Obama beat Romney by a smaller margin in the Midwest however easily defeated him in the south. 

Further evidence provided by source C gives information relating to communities. This information shows that Obama defeated Romney easily within the big as well as the mid-size cities, however Romney beat Obama when it came to towns and suburban or rural area votes. 

Therefore Obama’s support was at its strongest in the east and Midwest regions as well as winning the west. Obama marginally won Americas mid-sized cities even though Romney still beat Obama in the south, rural areas. Therefore this cannot be considered as Obama defeating Romney decisively across all areas. 

The second component of the second part of the viewpoint states that “in the 2012 presidential election Barack Obama defeated his republican opponent Mitt Romney by decisive margins in all sections of society.” Source D provides evidence for this by giving information relating to gender. It is shown that Obama won female voters by a sizable 55% margin to Romney’s 44%. However on the flip side Romney beat Obama when it came to male voters by a lesser margin of Romney having 52% of male voters compared to Obama’s 45%. 

Source D withholds further significance as it provides key information in relation to age. For example, the source shows that Obama won all of the 3 voter groups under 40 by extensive margins by winning 18–24-year old’s 60% to just 36%. However in return Romney did win all of the three voter groups aged 40 and above. Romney’s performance was best served with the 65 plus voters winning 56% of voters compared to Obama’s 44%. 

Furthermore Source D continues to provide vital information in relation to ethnicity. Obama won the black, Hispanic, and Asian votes by massive margins, for example winning the black vote of an impressive 90%. However on balance Romney did do better than Obama with white voters by winning 20% more of white voters. 

Finally source D shows information in relation to income. Obama defeated Romney with immense ease with those whose income was below $50,00 by winning them by over 30% more. However Romney did win all of the voter groups whose income was $50,000. 

Overall Obama’s biggest support was from women, ethnic minorities, young voters, and low-income groups. However this could not be considered as Obama defeating Romney decisively in all sections of society as there were many groups such as whites which Obama did not win. 

The third component of the second part of the viewpoint states that “the Republican candidate in 2016, Donald Trump, performed significantly better among all voter groups compared to Mitt Romney in 2012.”. Evidence of this is provided by source D and source E where both sources provide information in relation to gender. During 2016 Trump won the majority of male votes with 53% and received 42% support from females. Whereas during 2012 Romney got 52% support from males and 44% support from females. 

There is also evidence from source D and source E which provide data about age. During 2012 Romney performed stronger among voters aged 18-24, 30-39 voter and 65 plus voters than Trump, however Trump performed better in the voter age groups of 25–29-year old’s and 50–64-year old’s than Romney. Although both Romney and Trump did receive similar levels of support from 40–49-year-old voters.

Further evidence from sources D and E reveal information relating to ethnicity. In comparison to Trump Romney received better support from white voters than Trump, however Trump performed better than Romney among Black, Hispanic, and Asian voters. However among different groups Romney performed better in comparison to Trump. 

Evidence from sources D and E provide relevant information regarding income. Trump had a better performance than Romney among those whose income was under $50,000 to be specific $30,00. Trump also had a better performance than Romney in the income bracket of $200-249,999, however Romney succeeded trump in all the other income brackets. 

Overall Trump did show some success as he did do better in some voter groups compared to Romney such as males, the poorest and some ethnic minority groups and age groups. However in other voter group it can be obviously seen that Romney performed much better in 2012 than Trump did in 2016.

The viewpoint states that Barack Obama defeated his republican opponent, Mitt Romney by decisive margins in every area and aspect. Obama decisively defeated Romney in the East and the West, however the margin in the Midwest was much slimmer and although Obama still won he only won by 5% therefore not winning decisively. In the South Obama was easily defeated by Romney, therefore we cannot say that Obama defeated Romney in every area. Furthermore Obama decisively beat Romney when it came to mid-sized and large cities although Obama did marginally lose to Romney when it came to rural and suburban areas and was then largely defeated by Romney in votes from those living in towns. Therefore in conclusion Obama did not defeat Romney decisively in every area due to losing to opponent Romney in certain areas. Overall making the statement incorrect.

Additionally, the viewpoint states that Obama decisively defeated Romney within all sections of society. While Obama did score decisive victories among ethic minorities, poor income groups, young vote, and females Romney crushed Obama with having the most support from every age group over 40%. Furthermore Romney defeated Obama among male and white voters as well as beating Obama with those whose income is $50,000 and above. Due to this, we cannot say that this section of the statement is correct therefore making it incorrect. While Obama did defeat Romney in certain voter groups Romney did defeat Obama in others.