Graphic
Published October 11, 2012
Updated October 11, 2012
Moderates Rule: Senate Control Depends on the Middle
In every single 2012 Senate battleground state, moderates make up the biggest chunk of voters. In 8 of 10, conservatives outnumber liberals substantially, making moderate voters even more important to Democrats. Without winning moderates by a significant margin, most Senate Democratic candidates can’t measure out a path to victory.

To read this Graphic, open the attached PDF.
All the Politics of the Center graphics are available for viewing and sharing via Flickr.
Michelle Diggles, Ph.D.
Former Senior Political Analyst
Lanae Erickson
Senior Vice President for Social Policy, Education & Politics
Lanae Erickson on X:
LanaeErickson
Downloads
More in Politics
View all Politics
Graphic
Published October 19, 2012
The Politics of the Center 2012 Graphics Series
Latest Publications
Memo
Published October 27, 2026
What Are Men Under 50 Prioritizing Heading Into the Midterms and 2027?
Memo
Published October 22, 2026
Testing the Limits of Economic Populism
Blog
Published October 20, 2026
Five Questions Boards Should Be Asking Before Election Day
Memo
Published October 20, 2026