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  • Posted Nov. 2, 2012 1:30 p.m.
  • In very simple terms, Nate Silver explains why he expects President Obama to be re-elected

  • In an interview with Politico the other day, Nate Silver (above), the popular polling analyst for The New York Times, tried to demystify the work he does:

    “This is not wizardry or rocket science,” said Silver. “All you have to do is take an average, and count to 270. It’s a pretty simple set of facts.”

    Silver concentrates on state polls, not national surveys. He averages the numbers in virtually all the polls in each state, makes a minor ajdustment or two, assigns each state to one candidate or the other, adds up the electoral votes and — voila! — projects ...

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