The United States presidential election of 2012 was the 57th quadrennial American presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. The Democratic nominee, incumbent President Barack Obama, and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, were elected to a second term, defeating the Republican nominee, former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney and his running mate, Representative and future House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. 

As the incumbent president, Obama secured the Democratic nomination with no serious opposition. The Republican Party was more fractured; Mitt Romney was consistently competitive in the polls, but faced challenges from a number of more conservative contenders whose popularity each fluctuated, often besting Romney's. Romney effectively secured the nomination by early May as the economy improved, albeit at a persistently laggard rate. The campaign was marked by a sharp rise in fundraising, including from new nominally independent Super PACs. The campaigns focused heavily on domestic issues: debate centered largely around sound responses to the Great Recession in terms of economic recovery and job creation. Other issues included long-term federal budget issues, the future of social insurance programs, and the Affordable Care Act. Foreign policy was also discussed including the phase-out of the Iraq War, the size of and spending on the military, preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and appropriate counteractions to terrorism.
who secured the democratic nomination?
What election year is the article about?
Did Obama have opposition securing his nomination?
Who was competitive in the pools for the republicans?
Did Romney face opposition?
Who secured the republican nomination?
Was foreign policy discussed in the campaigns?
Who was Obama’s running mate?
Who was elected to a second term?
What state is Romney the former governor of?
Who was Romney’s running mate?
When did Romney secure his nomination?
the campaign was marked by a sharp rise in what?
What did the campaigns focus a lot on?
Were federal budget issues focused on?
Was the Affordable care act discussed?
Who were they trying to prevent from obtaining nuclear weapons?
Obama
Obama secured the Democratic nomination
2012
election of 2012
no
nomination with no serious opposition
Mitt Romney
 Mitt Romney was consistently competitive in the polls
yes
ontenders whose popularity each fluctuated, often besting Romney's
Mitt Romney
ormer Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney and his running mate, Representative and future House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.
yes
Foreign policy was also discussed including the phase-out of the Iraq War
Joe Biden
and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden
Barack Obama and Joe Biden
President Barack Obama, and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, were elected to a second term
Massachusetts
former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney
Paul Ryan
his running mate, Representative and future House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin
early May
Romney effectively secured the nomination by early May as the economy improved
fundraising
The campaign was marked by a sharp rise in fundraising
domestic issues
The campaigns focused heavily on domestic issues
yes
issues included long-term federal budget issues
yes
and the Affordable Care Act
Iran
preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons