News — The 2012 presidential campaign has provided endless fodder for social media, water cooler conversation and 鈥淪aturday Night Live鈥� spoofs. But, in the end, Americans going to the polls generally pull the lever based on one thing: their gut feelings, says presidential politics expert Larry Butler of Rowan University.
鈥淢oreso than any other elected office, people vote for a president based on personal characteristics. This is the person who is going to be in your living room, so to speak, for the next four years.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e choosing the leader of your country, the person you trust more, the person you think will move forward with the direction you think our country should go, the person who represents your values,鈥� says Butler, a political scientist who serves as associate dean of Rowan鈥檚 College of Humanities & Social Sciences. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a personal judgment.鈥�
In a strong showing in his first debate and by holding his own in the second, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has proven that he can be 鈥減residential,鈥� says Butler.
鈥淗e鈥檚 had some weak spots, but he has rounded out the presidential persona,鈥� Butler says. 鈥淗e鈥檚 looking presidential. He鈥檚 talking in a way that shows he understands people鈥檚 problems. He鈥檚 demonstrating much more of a connection to ordinary people.鈥�
Meanwhile, Obama also has improved his standing with the American people, according to Butler.
鈥淭he president鈥檚 approval rating has improved significantly in recent months by virtue of rising consumer confidence and the Obama campaign鈥檚 effective messaging,鈥� Butler says.
The presidential race really is about the following, Butler says: Which side is going to get their base mobilized and win over the small percentage of undecided voters? Do voters think President Barack Obama deserves a second term? And, if not, is Romney a suitable replacement?
With the economy and jobs as the most pressing campaign issues, most of the nation鈥檚 voters have already made their Election Day decisions, says Butler.
鈥淎t this point, both campaigns are already working the margins by targeting narrow portions of the electorate,鈥� he says.
It will be interesting to see how Romney fares in Monday evening鈥檚 final debate, which focuses on foreign policy, Butler adds.
鈥淚f you had to pick the strongest area for Obama, it is foreign policy,鈥� says Butler. Romney is less comfortable with foreign policy, but has made some gains in that area in the past few weeks, particularly with his recent speech at Virginia Military Institute, according to Butler.
鈥淭he foundation for his foreign policy platform is there,鈥� says Butler. 鈥淭he question is whether he can talk about it comfortably.鈥�
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