Model that correctly predicted every presidential election since 1980 gives its 2016 prediction

Model that correctly predicted every presidential election since 1980 gives its 2016 prediction

Read it and weep: One of the world’s most well-known financial institutions, which has correctly predicted every presidential election since 1980, has come out with its verdict for 2016. It is predicting a win for Hillary Clinton.

Moody’s Analytics, a subsidiary of credit ratings agency Moody’s, believes President Obama’s strong approval ratings will give the Democratic nominee a significant advantage come November.

Clinton is widely expected to secure the Democratic nomination with what appears to be an insurmountable lead in delegates over rival Sen. [score]Bernie Sanders[/score].

Will this presidential election be the most important in American history?

“President Obama’s approval rating has crossed over the important 50% threshold for the first time in almost four years,” said Moody’s economist Dan White, adding,

This sudden surge could be a result of the messy primary season or a relative lull in geopolitical news from overseas.

White argues that rising gas prices and a big drop in Obama’s approval ratings would be the only set of circumstances under which Donald Trump would beat the Democratic nominee. Moody’s latest model has Clinton racking up 332 electoral votes compared to Trump’s 206. A total of 270 is needed to win the presidency.

Moody’s has been predicting a third term of Democratic rule since it first began forecasting for the 2016 race in July 2015, The Hill reports. The model tracks the two-year change in the president’s favorability ratings running up to the election and was introduced for the 2016 electoral cycle.

“In light of the myriad unusual factors swirling around this election, its inclusion may prove particularly prudent in 2016,” said White.

The model’s most important economic variable is income growth, along with gas and home prices. Moody’s also penalizes incumbents as voters will be more open to a change of administration after four or eight years.

National polls show a much tighter race than the Moody’s model. An ABC/Washington Post poll released Sunday gives Donald Trump a two percentage point lead over Hillary Clinton, while a WSJ/NBC poll puts Clinton three percentage points ahead.

This report, by Guy Bentley, was cross-posted by arrangement with the Daily Caller News Foundation.

LU Staff

LU Staff

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