Summing Up the Presidential Election in Three Charts
It’s Friday in the Wall Street Daily Nation!
That means the longwinded analysis is out. (Hallelujah!) And some carefully selected charts are in. (Amen!)
This week, in honor of the political conventions, I’m going to sum up the 2012 presidential election in three simple charts.
Not possible, you say? Check out the charts first, would you?
Afterwards, feel free to disagree and let me know what chart you really think is most important by emailing it to me at feedback@wallstreetdaily.com.
A Tale of Two Americas
Last week’s Consumer Confidence reading came in way below expectations at 60.6. (Economists expected a reading of 66.) That’s troubling, considering the average monthly Consumer Confidence reading since 1967 is 94.2.
What’s most disturbing, though, is the difference in confidence based on income levels. Americans with higher incomes (more than $50,000) are much more confident than Americans with lower incomes (less than $50,000).
So much so, “the gap in confidence between rich and poor is close to record highs,” according to Bespoke Investment Group. Take a look:
Key to Winning the Presidency #1: Lower that gap! Convince lower income Americans they have a reason to be confident about the future.
At this point, though, they’ll likely need concrete proposals to do the trick. Sorry, but campaign rhetoric won’t cut it. And after watching both conventions, both candidates have their work cut out for them.
Show Me the Jobs!
I revealed two weeks ago that the labor market is (finally) on the mend. But the recovery remains mind-numbingly slow and fragile.
As the chart below shows, job losses from the start of this recession are far from being recouped in percentage terms.
Key to Winning the Presidency #2: Convince all Americans you have a real plan to create jobs. Simply citing a specific number won’t cut it, either. We need details, baby, details!
And again, both candidates have their work cut out for them.
That’s it for today. Before you sign off, though, do us a favor. Let us know what you think about this weekly column – or any of our recent work at Wall Street Daily – by sending an email to feedback@wallstreetdaily.com, leaving a comment on our website, or catching us on Facebook or Google+.
Thanks and enjoy the weekend!
Ahead of the tape,
Louis Basenese
Related Topics: Economy and Politics, Market Analysis
I am concerned with both sides views, or what each side says about the other sides intrest in the middle income and elderly.
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I don’t dare let the Republicans extend the Afgan war and/or start another one for their war profitteers.
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S. Sheridan Reply:
September 11th, 2012 at 5:48 am
This is why we as Americans can’t move forward – because we can’t learn from the past. Today being the 11th anniversary of the terror attacks it’s mind-numbing the amount of people who believe we went to war for war-profits. Get with the program people and stop blaming a response to attack for the useless politics of the last few years. If I remember correctly, both sides (including Hillary) voted for the Iraq war, yet people somehow forget that.
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In a world of liars, Rupert Murdock starts here.
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Jim Frazin Reply:
September 9th, 2012 at 3:03 pm
Oops, Murdoch
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ceb Reply:
September 11th, 2012 at 8:59 am
Unbelevable. Calling RM a liar with Von Erkelstein in the White House. Looks like selective hearing.
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Couldn’t resist the above comment.
However, so far, I like what I see in this column.
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The re-election needs to stand on fact, rather than fiction. The re-election would need to completely remake its entire self, from the inside out… and there simply isn’t any motive. The election must be able to convince folks that this isn’t just another sharp tongue, fast talking progressive that will continue down the road that is so well laid out in front of us, but that the path less taken, maybe a little more difficult, and might just make folks actually work for their resources, will be the conservative, and American path to be taken. Also that the increasing size of the government is not increasing the benefits to anyone in the long run. Eating cake for one day… is not as good as eating ….. for a lifetime. The challange to the voters, will be keeping a very close eye on exactly what happens on the first Friday following the election… and the first Friday following the first of the new year. Then, to maintain an involved and informed postion, in spite of the so called information media we have presenting the “news” today.
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Well stated Dale! Here’s a man who knows the truth and lives in reality. You’re a great American Dale.
Gregg Kent from 9/7 posting: What planet are you from? The lack of oxygen has affected your truth and reality receptors. Come back to earth.
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Thank you for the good writeup. It in reality was a enjoyment account it. Look complicated to more introduced agreeable from you! By the way, how can we be in contact?
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