The Chicago Tribune provided minimal and dry coverage of the 2012 election that focused on potential Republican candidates and how current issues might impact President Obama's re-election chances. In contrast, Politico, Daily Kos, and Huffington Post featured more extensive election coverage with differing tones. Politico favored Republican candidates while Daily Kos and Huffington Post were more critical of Republicans and less supportive of Obama.

1. Chicago Tribune Huffington Post V. Politico Daily Kos

3. Extent of direct coverage was what Republicans were serious potential candidates and if there would possibly be a challenge to Obamafrom the left

4. Vast majority of Chicago Tribune political coverage was local

6. But still not a significant amount

7. Articles concerning the 2012 election mostly mentioned it in passing

8. Example: Broad article about the budget and Obama’s handling of it, then paragraph explaining how his views might affect his campaign & the election

10. former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum

11. former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman

12. former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee

13. former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour

14. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels

16. But if I had to choose

18. Chicago Tribune 2012 election coverage was

19. Minimal & dry

20. Not much opinion or analysis outside of editorials

22. 2012 Approach 2012 = dominant theme Permeates site Themes Republican coverage Obama Minimal Libya

23. Republican Coverage Right-leaning Coverage = Majority of Content Michele Bachmann Bachmann steals the show: 'I'm in!‘ Michele Bachmann bid could shake up GOP field She “possesses an array of other strengths that are certain to make her a factor in the GOP primary” She is a “good fit” Sarah Palin Palin pounds Obama over Israel Implying that Obama is acting incorrectly in Israel Mitt Romney Another McCain alum joins Team Huntsman Highlighting how Republicans are gaining strength Haley Barbour Barbour: 'What are we doing in Libya?' Again, implying that Obama isn’t reacting correctly

24. Politico Daily Calendar Daily Calendar ALL politicians featured on March 24, 25, 26 and 27 were Republicans Coincidence?

26. Minimal Democratic coverage

27. Obama

28. Potentially left-ist coverage

29. Republican scandals in the news

30. Husband of Ensign mistress indicted

31. Scott Brown's Planned Parenthood dodge?

32. Criticism by both Republicans and Democrats for atypical Republican stance

33. “He’s not who he says he is”

34. “Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) are on the record specifically supporting Planned Parenthood funding as well as Title X family planning funding”

35. Michele Bachmann's Facebook flop

37. Michele Bachmann

38. Ron Paul

39. Sarah Palin

40. Newt Gingrich

41. Haley Barbour

42. Tim Pawlenty

43. Jon Huntsman

44. Donald Trump

45. Barack Obama

46. Rudy Guiliani

47. Mitch Daniels

48. Rick Santorum

49. Chris Christie

50. Mike Huckabee

51. Herman Cain

52. Jim DeMint

53. John Bolton

54. Gary Johnson

55. George Pataki

56. What about Randall Terry?

57. Mike Gravel

58. Alan Grayson

60. 2012 Election Themes Republican anxiety over under-qualified candidates Many Republicans are discontent with the current GOP choices because many of the front-runners have a major flaw that will either keep them out of the primaries or keep them from beating Obama Donors reluctant to give money Republican candidates’ missteps/shortcomings Bachmann’s Revolutionary War mistake Michele Bachmann Tone is usually negative and critical, “anti-Republican” rather than “pro-Democrat”

61. Reporting on Republicans Coverage of potential GOP candidates, speculation on who will run “Rand Paul for President? Senator Mulling 2012 Campaign” Negative, often mocking “Michele Bachmann Planning on Doing Presidential Stuff, Maybe” Criticism of candidates: “Gingrich Flip-flops on Flip-flopping”

62. Speculatron 2012 “We’re not going to treat every stupid piece of campaign fluff as equally shiny. In fact, when balloons of media hype begin to inflate, we will make it our mission to come armed with pins and prick them. In this way, we hope to do something with presidential campaign coverage that has never before been achieved: we hope to make it “barely tolerable.“

65. Reporting on Obama Minimal, usually in reference to how his current policies will affect his campaign Libya Foreign relations

66. “The GOP has an enormous problem for 2012. Their field is essentially talentless.” - Daily Kos, 2/25

67. Daily Kos Progressive blog founded in 2002 by Markos Moulitas 2 million unique visitors/month “It is at once a news organization, community, and activist hub…” “Largest progressive community blog in the United States” (per the site)

69. Ex: “2012 GOP Field: No Talent” (cultjake, 2/25)

70. “…They’re the Snookis, Kardashians, Hiltons of the world.”

71. Perceived weakness of the GOP field

72. Ex: “Trumping Pawlenty: The Donald Gets More Coverage than T-Paw” (Jed Lewinson, 3/23)

73. “…when Republicans fret about their prospects for defeating President Obama, they’ve got something to worry about.”

75. Ex: “How the Republican Wave for the best thing EVER…for Democrats” (aewells, 3/9)

76. “…polling suggests Americans are moving left and to the center in droves…”

77. Obama’s legitimacy as Democrat candidate

78. Ex:“The Obama Dilemma” (sutherlc, 3/21)

79. “Do we allow Obama to abandon his base, because he is better than the other person, or do we make a principled stand and vote for another candidate who truly does represent us?”

80. Obama incongruent with progressive left

81. Ex: “I Can’t in Good Conscience Vote for Obama” (mondale, 3/14)

83. Ex: “Why is Newt Gingrich Taken Seriously?” (Thresher, 2/27)

84. Very critical, watch-dog sentiment

85. Ex: fact-checking candidates: “In Iowa, Bachmann Peddles Pelosi-Deficit Lie” (johnjgraff, 3/26)

86. Interesting dichotomy: cynical of GOP, but lack of outright Obama support

87. Ex: “Nation Needs a Democrat to Challenge Obama” (John Russonello, 3/10), “Farewell, Obama” (3 Miles from Space, 2/25)