The Liberal Elitist

Data trumps narrative: one big lesson of this election

Barack Obama increased turnout among young voters in this election, even though he had nothing comparable to the wave of euphoria he had in 2008.  

There's a simple lesson here: data trumps narrative. Obama's team did it the old fashioned way--they worked name by name, block by block, precinct by precinct. 

That is truly what building a coalition is all about. The narrative is important, but it isn't everything. And it always runs out of gas. Data keeps working, all the time. 

Could it be that decisive?

Over at Nate Silver's 538 blog on the NY Times, he now has Obama at a 91% chance of winning. That means Mitt would have to pull off the equivalent of an inside straight to win this thing.

Not even Truman did that.

The "Southern Stragegy" lives, but it's days may be numbered

If Barack Obama wins this election, he'll do it largely without the support of white people. And if Mitt Romney wins, it will be because he won the overwhelming support of white people--and of no one else. 

Does anyone bother to notice this and what it means?