<P> Obama defeated Romney , winning a majority of both the popular vote and the Electoral College . Obama won 51.1 % of the popular vote compared to Romney 's 47.2 % . Obama was the first incumbent since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944 to win reelection with fewer electoral votes and a lower popular vote percentage than had been won in the previous election , and was also the first two - term president since Ronald Reagan to win both his presidential bids with a majority of the nationwide popular vote . </P>
<P> Obama defeated Romney , winning a majority of both the popular vote and the Electoral College . Obama won 51.1 % of the popular vote compared to Romney 's 47.2 % . Obama was the first incumbent since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944 to win reelection with fewer electoral votes and a lower popular vote percentage than had been won in the previous election , and was also the first two - term president since Ronald Reagan to win both his presidential bids with a majority of the nationwide popular vote . </P>
who won the popular vote in 2012 us presidential election
who won the popular vote in 2012 us presidential election
Obama
Obama