The commonplace wisdom when it comes to the difference between the Republican and Democratic Party asserts the idea that Democrats fall in love and the Republicans fall in line. Rooted in that assumption is the idea of the Republican Party being better organized and that the Democrats led around by emotions. It would therefore hold that the Democrats would rely more on enthusiasm as a measurement to energize their base.
Often stated in the media in 2012, was simply the Democrats had an enthusiasm gap when it came to the upcoming presidential election. It was argued that the enthusiasm gap was an outgrowth of a down economy. Graduates who couldn’t find jobs after college would sour and their voting behavior would change in 2012. Minority groups who suffered the brunt of the unemployment rate would simply sit out the election. In many ways, the scene was set for a great night for the Republican Party in 2012.