By winning the 2012 presidential election, Barack Obama became the first candidate in more than 50 years to receive 51% of the popular vote twice.

With all ballots finally counted and certified, the tally from the November election revealed that Obama won 51.1% and Mitt Romney 47.2%. Four years ago, Obama received 52.9% of the vote.

The last president to take home 51% or more twice was Republican Dwight Eisenhower, in 1952 and 1956. The last Democrat to pull off this feat was Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Although George W. Bush was elected twice, he earned only 47.9% of the vote in 2000 and 50.7% in 2004. In fact, in 2000 he actually lost the popular vote to Al Gore by 543,895 votes.

Before Bush, Bill Clinton won 43.0% in 1992 and 49.2% in 1996. In both elections, independent candidate Ross Perot siphoned off a significant number of votes from the two major party candidates.

-David Wallechinsky, Noel Brinkerhoff

To Learn More:

Final Tally Shows Obama First Since ’56 to Win 51% Twice (by Greg Giroux, Bloomberg)

2012 National Popular Vote Tracker (David Wasserman @Redistrict)

47%...the Number that will Haunt Mitt Romney Forever (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)