A plate full of post-election leftovers

I concluded the yesterday's post with this promise.

I'll return with more post-election analysis later. Whether it's recycling something from Overnight News Digest: Science Saturday (Obama re-elected edition) or something more original, such as following up on the campaigns I either volunteered for or observed closely, I don't know yet. I'll see how I feel tomorrow.

I've been dragging most of the week, so I'm going to just heat up the leftovers.

I'll begin with an item about all the money spent on all the campaigns this year.

University of Virginia: U.Va. Law Professors: Role of Money in Elections Will Continue to Raise Questions November 8, 2012

In the wake of this week’s elections – which the Center for Responsive Politics estimates featured $5.8 billion in spending on the presidential and congressional races combined – two University of Virginia law professors reflected on the relationship between money, free speech and campaign finance.

Both are dismayed by both the amount of money and the lack of transparency.

Where did most of that money go? Television advertising. MSU is on the case.

$4 billion in advertising

Robert Kolt, instructor of advertising at Michigan State University, says more money has been spent on campaign advertising in 2012 than ever before.

I'm beyond dismayed; I'm astounded! Then again, this was not a good year for a lot of the big-money SuperPACs when it came to bang for the buck, but that's a subject for a future post.

More post-election news over the jump.

It's time for one last poll from 2012.

University of Cincinnati: OHIO POLL ON TARGET IN PRESIDENTIAL, U.S. SENATE RACES(PDF)
November 9, 2012

Cincinnati, OH--The University of Cincinnati’s Ohio Poll projected President Barack Obama’s victory Tuesday within 0.2 percent of his actual vote statewide. The Poll also projected U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown’s victory within 0.2 of his actual vote. The Ohio Poll has now accurately projected the winner in 40 out of 40 statewide races (candidates and ballot issues) polled since 1994.

This would be a good time to discuss polls, poll aggregators, and Nate Silver, but I'll save that for a future entry as well.

Before I leave the University of Cincinnati, I want to know, "Security, anyone?"

University of Cincinnati: Backstage view of presidential security for Obama's UC visit
When President Obama visited campus, UC’s experienced police chief knew just how tight security would be.
by Deborah Rieselman
November 8, 2012

Secret Service agents and White House security surreptitiously combed through every corner of the University of Cincinnati campus before anyone knew that President Barack Obama was going to pay a visit on Sunday, Nov. 4. "The president's people are here long before they make their presence known," UC's police chief Michael Cureton said.

He estimated an advance team was on campus for a week before he received a phone call about booking Fifth Third Arena for the president's campaign stop just four days later. And by the time Sunday rolled around, security was at an all-time high.

"The president is the most well-protected man in the world. He always moves around in a bubble," said Cureton, who joined UC one year ago and who had helped guard the president several other times, in Cincinnati and Washington, D.C.

Short of the Republic collapsing, which I always count as a possibility, however faint, on this blog, Obama will have Secret Service protection for the rest of his life, although it will be especially tight for the next four years.

Now a meta story about the media from UNLV: Newsmakers: Election 2012
A collection of election-related news stories featuring faculty and students at UNLV.
By UNLV Media Relations
November 8, 2012

Nevada was a key swing state in the 2012 election, placing it – and UNLV – front and center in a political conversation that captivated national and international audiences. Media from here in Nevada and around the world sought the opinion of UNLV faculty and students - to gain insight on the youth vote, to learn tips and tricks of debate, and to understand the political firestorm brewing in the Silver State and across the nation.

Finally, the University of North Dakota tooting its own horn.

UND Law Alumnus Elected to the Bench November 8, 2012

Three UND Law School Alumnus were elected to the bench on election day this past Tuesday.

Greg Pinski, Class of '99, was elected to the Cascade County, MT 8th Judicial District.

Brad Cruff, Class of '94, was elected Judge of the Southeast District of North Dakota.

Dann Greenwood, Class of '77, was elected Judge of the Southwest District of North Dakota.

Many other Alumnus were also re-elected to their judgeships.

U of M doesn't do that. This year, I did it for them.

If you've been paying attention, you'll see that I've taken care of one of my two promises while making two more. I'll never run out of stuff to write about!