The Midterm: A Look Back

The Backdrop

Great expectations

Reliance on unreliable voters. From the 2008 exit poll:

..............................................Obama.....McCain

First-time voters (11%) ..........69%..........30%

Returning voters (89%).........50%..........47%

Bad News in 2009 and 2010

• Unemployment
• Obama approval
• Obama and the issues
• The parties and the issues

The Outcome

• Senate
• House
• Bye, bye Blue Dogs
• The exits

California

• The exits: note party and ethnicity
• The map
• Cliffhanger
• Ballot measures
• The very unhappy near future