Submitted by Fox First at Ten on October 26th
By The Associated Press
Here is the growth of the U.S. economy, as measured by the change in the gross domestic product, in the July-September quarter of presidential election years dating to 1980. GDP is the nation's total output of goods and services.
A minus number means the economy contracted during that quarter.
Years Third quarter GDP growth rate Outcome of presidential race 1980 -0.7 percent Reagan defeats incumbent Carter 1984 3.9 percent Incumbent Reagan defeats Mondale 1988 2.1 percent George H.W. Bush defeats Dukakis 1992 4.2 percent Clinton defeats incumbent Bush 1996 3.5 percent Incumbent Clinton defeats Dole 2000 0.3 percent George W. Bush defeats Gore 2004 3.0 percent Incumbent Bush defeats Kerry 2008 -3.7 percent Obama defeats McCain 2012 2.0 percent Obama and RomneyOutcome ???
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