First Post-Citizens United Election: The U.S. presidential election of 2012 marked the first significant election held after the Citizens United v. FEC ruling in 2010 by the Supreme Court.
Battleground States:Both campaigns strategically focused their resources on key swing states like Ohio, Florida, and Virginia.
Shift in Demographics and the Rise of Minority Voters: In some pivotal states, African American and Hispanic votes were important in securing Barack Obama's victory.
Importance of Technology and Social Media: The 2012 election was a watershed in the history of political campaigns' use of social media and technology.
Impact of Superstorm Sandy:President Obama's handling of the crisis, including his coordinated response with state and local officials, received positive attention.