by Renee Israel
With just two months to go until the US 2012 Presidential Elections, UK
bookmakers have rolled out odds on who they believe will be the next President
of the United States.
Bookmakers have a posted a large number of 2012 US Presidential Election odds
and betting lines, although the most popular market is who will win the general
election, with President Obama the current betting favourite.
Irish online and off line sports betting group, Paddy Power, for example, has
odds of 4/11 that Barack Obama will continue into a second term as President of
the US, followed by Mitt Romney at 7/4.
US President Election odds at Paddy Power:
Democrats - 4/11
Republicans - 7/4
Any other - 40/1
US Presidential Odds by State
Besides the Obama bookie favourite, Paddy Power also has odds on the
2012 Election by state, listing all 50 of them with the odds of each party
winning.
So, for example, the odds of the Republicans winning in Arizona are 1/14,
compared to the Democrats' 6/1, while California has a 1/40 Democrat victory
compared to a 9/1 Republican victory.
All the states, from Alabama to Wisconsin, are listed at the sports betting
site.
Experts at Odds over Presidential Winner
While both Obama and Romney have been officially elected by their respective
parties as presidential candidates, and experts may still be at odds over their
chances of moving into the White House, 2012 US Presidential Election betting is
going strong at online betting sites.
The electorate is divided almost 50-50 when it comes to their favourite
candidate. At present 45% want Obama to win, while 46% are in favour of Romney.
The fight, however, is on for the votes of those Americans who are still
undecided - and this is where the hard work of campaigning goes in.
Each side is making the usual pre-electoral promises. Romney, for example,
wants to cut income tax by 20% and plans to create millions of new jobs in the
coming four years.
Obama is going for another industry rescue plan and promises to double
exports during another four year stint.
One expert of the Franklin Roosevelt Research Foundation said that "Obama has
a clear edge over Romney, irrespective of his economic program".
"He is president," said Yuri Rogulev, "and he has the administrative
resources. He has a lot of publicity in the media. As a rule, Americans vote for
the incumbent president unless something out of the ordinary happens."
Obama also has the advantage of his charisma and personality, with 50% of
Americans liking him as a person, versus 30% who like Romney.
