Changes

*Congress kept extending benefits for the unemployed, which made them dependents of government more interested in continuing the entitlement than boosting the free market

*Congress kept extending benefits for the unemployed, which made them dependents of government more interested in continuing the entitlement than boosting the free market

*failed to run effective political ads against [[Obama]]

*failed to run effective political ads against [[Obama]]

*badly out-of-touch with common people, and made no real attempt to connect -- see the infamous "47% video" and his comment about "binders full of women"  

*badly out-of-touch with common people, and made no real attempt to connect—see the infamous "47% video" and his comment about "binders full of women"  

*his expensive "Orca" election day "get out the vote" technology failed

*his expensive "Orca" election day "get out the vote" technology failed

*no meaningful outreach to young people

*no meaningful outreach to young people

*clueless about the [[Democrat]] [[early voting]] machine that resulted in more than a million early votes by mail for Obama in [[Ohio]]

*clueless about the [[Democrat]] [[early voting]] machine that resulted in more than a million early votes by mail for Obama in [[Ohio]]

*rampant use of political machine tactics by Obama supporters  

*rampant use of political machine tactics by Obama supporters  

*Inability of the GOP to win court battles regarding election laws, specifically in battleground states <ref>[http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-09-07/republicans-losing-election-law-war-as-campaign-ramps-up Republicans Losing Election Law War as Campaign Ramps Up]</ref> <ref>[http://www2.ohio-votes.com/news/2012/sep/02/late-court-decisions-may-impact-2012-election-ar-1158219/ Late Court Decisions May Impact 2012 Election]</ref>

*Inability of the GOP to win court battles regarding election laws, specifically in battleground states <ref>[http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-09-07/republicans-losing-election-law-war-as-campaign-ramps-up Republicans Losing Election Law War as Campaign Ramps Up]</ref><ref>[http://www2.ohio-votes.com/news/2012/sep/02/late-court-decisions-may-impact-2012-election-ar-1158219/ Late Court Decisions May Impact 2012 Election]</ref>

*in general (perhaps due to GOTV efforts) more Democrats voted than Republicans, not only for President, but also in Senate and Congressional races, nationwide. (For example, the sum of all Democratic congressional votes cast were greater than the sum of all Republican votes.)

*in general (perhaps due to [[GOTV]] efforts) more Democrats voted than Republicans, not only for President, but also in Senate and Congressional races, nationwide. (For example, the sum of all Democratic congressional votes cast were greater than the sum of all Republican votes.)

*brutal primary season lasted longer than in prior election years due to SuperPAC funding of the other primary challengers, hurting both the final nominee and the Republican brand.

*brutal primary season lasted longer than in prior election years due to SuperPAC funding of the other primary challengers, hurting both the final nominee and the Republican brand.

*did well with an aggressive style in the first debate, but then inexplicably changed to a softer style that made him look weak.

*did well with an aggressive style in the first debate, but then inexplicably changed to a softer style that made him look weak.

*never overcame the [[Romney's 47 percent comment|47 percent comment]].

*never overcame the [[Romney's 47 percent comment|47 percent comment]].

*Walked right into the trap set by Candy Crowley and Barack Obama regarding "act of terror."  ("Please proceed, Governor.")

*Walked right into the trap set by Candy Crowley and Barack Obama regarding "act of terror."  ("Please proceed, Governor.")

*Ran as a pro-choice pro-lifer -- obviously nonsensical -- and confirmed his faux conservatism by saying he was "severely conservative" -- a phrase real conservatives would never use. Obama exploited the inconsistency by saying, "After a year in which he has been calling himself ‘severely conservative,’ he’s now trying to convince us that he was severely kidding about everything."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/10/romney-severely-kidding-about-his-severely-conservative-positions-obama-says/|title=Romney ‘Severely Kidding’ About His ‘Severely Conservative’ Positions, Obama Says|work=ABC News|date=October 11, 2012|accessdate=December 29, 2012}}</ref>

*Ran as a pro-choice pro-lifer—obviously nonsensical—and confirmed his faux conservatism by saying he was "severely conservative"—a phrase real conservatives would never use. Obama exploited the inconsistency by saying, "After a year in which he has been calling himself ‘severely conservative,’ he's now trying to convince us that he was severely kidding about everything."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/10/romney-severely-kidding-about-his-severely-conservative-positions-obama-says/|title=Romney ‘Severely Kidding’ About His ‘Severely Conservative’ Positions, Obama Says|work=ABC News|date=October 11, 2012|accessdate=December 29, 2012}}</ref>

(please improve or add to the list)

(please improve or add to the list)

*[[Presidential Election 2012]]

*[[Presidential Election 2012]]

[[Category:politics]]

[[Category:Politics]]