2012 U.S. Presidential Election

[Plantae]

In summary of the previous discussion, I'll just say that Clint Eastwood could have done better, and that Romney probably won't receive a long-term boost in the polls from his performance. A convention bump is typical for both candidates.

But as I said unmarried women are typically reliably liberal so is that really such a shocker?

I'm not disagreeing with the assertion that more unmarried women are liberal. My point is that if more unmarried women are driven to Obama, and more married women to Romney, is there going to be any measureable effect in the polls, for either candidate? I don't think so.

Dude he wrote in exceptions in a bill that was produced LONG before the thought of him as a Vice President ever came up.

Writing exceptions into the bill isn't the same as personally supporting those exceptions. I was already aware of the bill in question. Ryan believes that banning abortion with these exceptions would be a step in the right direction, but he doesn't believe in the exceptions themselves. Ryan has stated several times prior to his vice presidential candidacy that he opposes abortion under almost any circumstances (except when the mother's life is at immediate risk).

He also co-sponsored the Sanctity of Human Life act, which would declare that personhood begins at fertilization. Not only would trump any legal justification for abortion in cases of rape or incest, it would also outlaw some forms of contraception.

In addition, he has been mum on the subject of whether mothers who unlawfully commit abortion should face jail time or significant penalty. His remarks on the matter? "If it's illegal, it's illegal."

I'm not sure how he could be more extreme.

Yeah.. so a married woman, who's family is suffering, who's living pay check to pay check, who has kids moving back in with them because it is impossible to find a job. Is going to vote for a man who could very well continue the malaise for another 4 years because she likes his views on abortion.

You're missing the point. The economy is the most important issue. But abortion is also an important issue. Voters consider every position a politician may have, not just one position. Also, I wouldn't forget that there are economic issues that underscore abortion rights too.

I think you will agree that it is easier to demonstrate differences in abortion views to the average voter than it is differences in economic policy.

Paul Ryan's views on abortion are evident. Regardless of whether or not it is true, I think it's a lot harder to prove that Barack Obama's second term will result in more economic "malaise."

Views I might add, are actually quite radical, and far more out of the mainstream than Romney

This about the man who said: "nobody's pro-abortion. I think it's always a tragic situation. We should try to reduce these circumstances." Obama does support early-term abortions, but he also supports a ban on late-term abortions. And he believes that we should provide education and contraception to young people to make abortions more uncommon. This view seems to fit within existing abortion law, as established by Roe v. Wade.

According to this Gallup Poll, as of Jan. 2012, 39% are satisfied with current abortion law, and 18% of those dissatisfied believe that current abortion law should either remain the same or become less strict. In total, 57% of Americans believe that existing abortion law is adequate, or should be less strict. Obama's positions are hardly radical in this respect, and with his support on some bans of late-term abortion, are actually considerably more moderate than the 25% of Americans who say that abortion should be legal under any circumstances.