Election Post-Mortem

Earlier this year I made two predictions; Mitt Romney would win the Republican nomination and Mitt Romney would win the general election. One out of two ain't bad. I based those on one thing, the economy. I thought that Romney's business experience would propel him to the nomination, which it did. I also thought that, given the dismal state of the economy, the electorate would see him as the best option to turn things around. After all, isn't that what he's known for?

Almost immeidately after Ohio was called for Obama, you could hear the "experts"; "if only he had picked Rubio or Portman", "if only he was more conservative/less conservative", if only , if only, if only...

Others have declared the GOP dead, or at least in critical condition. Or that the GOP is in need of a major overhaul. That part's true, by the way and I'll get to that in some future blogs.

With almost thirty years in sales and marketing, I should have realized that what people often buy is the salesman not the product.This is especially true when the product is something we don't completely understand. We trust the proposal because we trust the person making it.

Looking at it another way, if you trust the doctor, you'll accept the treatment.

While most people have to admit they don't understand all of the workings of the nation's economy, they know things aren't right. I can't believe that anyone thinks that the number of people unemployed or under employed is acceptable, or that its OK for so many people to be underwater on their homes. It's probably also fair to say that most people also don't know what the solution is.

In the end, I don't think that Romney was able to convince enough Americans that he had the answers. It's like the person who shows up for the interview in the best suit with the best resume and the best answers but something just doesn't seem right and you end up going with the guy you know instead.

I also have to hand it to the Democrats for getting their voters out. Don't underestimate the power of early voting. Sell people on why you're the best candidate and get their votes before someone can change their mind or before they lose interest and forget about you.

With that, I congradulate the President on his re-election and wish him the best. I'm an American first and a Republican second. I'd rather see our country succeed and be told "I told you so" than for us to fail and tell you "I told you so".

To my Republican friends, it's not the end of the world. The pendulum swings to the right, then it swings to the left and back right again. No election is ever as good or as bad as you think its going to be. I remember when Bush won those elections and were giddy with delight. No more abortions, no more terrorism, an economy that would boost every American who wanted to succeed to the greatest heights. It really didn't happen that way, did it? And the disaster we're facing now? That, most likely, won't happen either.