The 2012 election was as highly anticipated an election as there has been in recent memory due to the current economic crisis in the United States. Democrats supported their candidate, the incumbent president Barack Obama, while Republicans clamored for their nominee, Mitt Romney, to unseat Obama and implement his new policies.

After months of campaigning and debating, Election Day did not go as planned for the Romney campaign and Republicans in general, as Obama was elected to a second term in office and the Senate remained in control of the Democrats.

The one positive from the Republican side is that they maintained control of the House of Representatives, although they had hoped to win the presidency, as well.

As is customarily the case, the election results have produced both positive and negative responses from American citizens.

Middletown North senior Matt Pozai is someone who was very disappointed with the Obama presidential victory, saying, “I am extremely disappointed and upset by the way people voted.” Pozai attributes Obama’s victory to people voting based on “social issues over economic issues.”

While Pozai and many others are clearly upset by Obama’s reelection, many more share exuberance over his victory.

Brian Hayes, 32, was quite pleased with the results of the 2012 Presidential Election. Hayes, a strong supporter of Obama, said of Romney, “Mitt’s views on social issues were similar to those from the 1950s, and he was unable to connect with voters because his stance on policies resonated only with older white voters.”

While pointing out his believed flaws in Romney’s policies, he praised President Obama by saying, “Obama overwhelmingly connected with younger voters, Latino voters, African American voters, and female voters. Obama deserves a second term because the economy is improving and healthcare is now a right and not privilege.”

Despite differing opinions on both candidates policies, Pozai and Hayes were able to agree that the results of the 2012 election races will not only affect them in the short-term, but also long-term.

What remains to be seen, however, is how much our government’s policies will actually change. With Democrats remaining in control in the Senate and Republicans retaining their control in the House of Representatives, there is no real indication that both sides will be able to agree on most issues.

The elections generated billions of dollars in campaign spending, yet the American people may not get many different results.