Despite disapproval, someone will win Obama-Romney

Associated Press

BILL BARROW, Associated Press

Updated: Sep 24, 2012 1:39 PM

ATLANTA (AP) — Never have American voters re-elected a president whose work they disapprove of as much as Barack Obama's. But Mitt Romney can't take much comfort in that historical fact. They've also never elected a challenger viewed so negatively.

Unless things change dramatically, this Election Day will mark a first, no matter who wins. The victor will be a sitting president with a slow economy, 8 percent-plus unemployment and an average Gallup job-approval rating below 50 percent. Or he'll be a challenger who isn't liked personally by a majority of the public and faces notable discord within his own party.

Some Republicans point with hope to 1980 and challenger Ronald Reagan's victory over President Jimmy Carter. Democrats point out that this isn't 1980, and a lot has changed.

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