Romney Missed the Median Voter

Following the Presidential election Mitt Romney is blaming his loss on the fact that Obama gave and promised "gifts" to certain demographics.  He claims that Obama won because he targeted groups such as African-Americans, hispanics, young, and women voters.  In defeat Romney and republican spokesman are trying to make it seem as if Obama was manipulative in doing this.  

"We have got to stop dividing American voters. . . . I absolutely reject that notion, that description. . . . We’re fighting for 100 percent of the vote."

Despite the post-election rhetoric what this statement really illustrates is that Mitt Romney failed to identify and target the median-voter during the campaign.  According to Downs' theory, candidates in a two-party system gravitate towards the median-voter in order to achieve a majority to win the election.  This article describes that in campaigning towards African-Americans, hispanics, young, and women voters Obama courted the vote of the median-voter.  His campaign promises and policies enacted during his first term led to him winning their support and in turn the election.