October 28, 2011 3:32 PM

Google glitch suggests "Romney can't win"

By
Stephanie Condon
Topics
Campaign 2012
Mitt Romney, Google (Credit: Google.com)

It appears that Google's mysterious search algorithm has been making a suggestion that Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney may not appreciate.

When a Google user types the phrase "Romney can win" into the search engine, its spell check function responds with the message, "Did you mean: Romney can't win?" Slate first stumbled upon the curious result and notes that no other GOP candidate is the victim of this Google glitch.

What exactly is behind the spell check suggestion will remain a mystery -- more than 200 variables go into the Google search algorithm, which ranks search results and produces spell check suggestions. Google, for its part, insist it's nothing personal against Romney -- just a flaw in the system.

"Our spellcheck feature is automated, and while no algorithm is perfect, we're always working to improve our search quality," a Google spokesperson told Hotsheet. "Last year, we launched roughly 500 improvements to our search algorithm."

The search results show a number of articles speculating on Romney's chances in the presidential contest. Some top results include the MSNBC blog post "Why Romney can't win in 2012" and a Fox News article entitled, "Christie: Romney 'Can Win This Election. We Cannot Have Another Four Years of Barack Obama'."

While the exact variables that led to this result are unknown, one lesson the results underline is that an ideal online media presence can't be purchased.

Romney spent nearly $900,000 -- more than any other GOP candidate -- on online ad and digital media from April through September of this year, the interactive marketing news site ClickZ reports. Rep. Michele Bachmann spent the next-largest sum at close to $400,000.

Investing in Google ads wouldn't impact Google's search results -- its ads appear separately, either on the side or above search results.

Still, there are ways to generate online buzz that may or may not influence Google's search results. For instance, ClickZ points out that Herman Cain has produced multiple, quirky web videos. While multiple videos have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times, Cain hit the jackpot with a recent bizarre video featuring his campaign manager Mark Block, which has won him significant mainstream media attention. Cain reported to the Federal Elections Commission paying the firm Little Bonanza Productions $175,000 for web video production in recent months.

While Romney has managed to maintain the support of around 20 percent of Republican voters, he has been unable to establish himself as the clear frontrunner. The latest CBS News/ New York Times poll shows Cain leading Romney nationally, 25 percent to 21 percent respectively.


Add a Comment See all 37 Comments
by VoteRonPaul2012 November 2, 2011 9:54 PM EDT
Maybe Google already knows that Ron Paul is going to get the GOP nomination?

Oops. Nevermind. I have only seen Dr. Paul show up in the major news results once. Guess they got the blackout memo.
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by stacybro November 2, 2011 3:12 PM EDT
I don't know if this is caused by the "algorithm" or not. I know that the "do you mean" can be affected by programmers at google because if you search for recursion it asks you "do you mean recursion". This was done as a programmer joke or an easter egg.
Reply to this comment
by leithflood November 2, 2011 10:59 AM EDT
At this point all these comments mean nothing. Most Americans do not vote. Your looking at about 30% of the population getting to the polls on election day. In 2012, with our country in turmoil, it could be 40% voting,but that would be rare. A candidate could win by getting 51% of 40% voting. Remember, under our voting system, you could loose the popular vote and still be elected by the electoral college. Right now Romney would get the nod. The Obama administration is a train wreck. They cannot lead and every day they prove it. The American people will forgive just about everything but stupidity.
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by Egads_No November 1, 2011 9:26 PM EDT
Hah I think there is nothing wrong at all with the algorithm, he can spend all the money he likes his policy is not going to catch on for most republicans.
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by noloyalisti October 31, 2011 2:48 PM EDT
The bottom line is that this current circus of Republicon wackos makes the GOP of the Bush Crime Family look progressive. If any Republicon EVER even sniffs the Presidency again, American is done.

The GOP is why we have the 99% Movement and also why it will not go away until we take it back (from the giant corporations and Top 1%.
Reply to this comment
by VoteRonPaul2012 November 2, 2011 9:56 PM EDT
I seriously suggest you feast your eyes on honest, principled, constitutionally sound Dr. Ron Paul before you make that statement.
by mariannpepit October 30, 2011 8:32 PM EDT
I believe that Bachmann, Santorum, Gingrich and Paul should quit as there is no way they will win the nomination. There are three candidates to choose from but however, Cain changes his words from time to time after he gets cornered by Mitt and Perry. I would not vote for Cain because he is he title of too entertaining, not interested in knowing foreign policy or world leaders and is only concerned about the title of President. Mitt is serious but he is a Mormon and that is a cult. Not good for the white house. Perry is an evangelical christian, is serious and has a good knowledge of how to change the country. This country of voters better wake up and not make another mistake and Cain is the first mistake.
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by noloyalisti October 31, 2011 4:04 PM EDT
I am curious as to why someone would vote for any Republicon after what they have done to America. And what they have done, they are determined to make even worse. I just don't get it.
by mariannpepit October 30, 2011 8:23 PM EDT
zarrakan: That's a pretty sick statement your making on this board. I am voting republican but not for Cain the pain or Rommney the Mormon. My vote will go for Perry. Democrats in this country fell for Obama's rethoric in 2008 and now they are sorry for the mistake. Debates are a joke and don't really tell much about the candidate. Campaigning from state to state is a better idea. And making your choice immediately is a bad decision. And vote wisely this time.
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by owen66 October 29, 2011 1:09 PM EDT
glitch? it's called Google Bombing. and not the first time its been done.
Reply to this comment
by Anotheryahoo October 29, 2011 10:12 AM EDT
Romney represents everything wrong with our current dysfunctional govt, ITS bought off by the corporations why do you think these very same guys have given him so much more MONEY then anyone else? because he is their man not the peoples candidate.

This will enable millions perhaps now billions of dollars telling us why he is a hero and we should vote for him. Im not going to be fooled. He represents everything wrong with the entire federal govt! ALL those alphabet agencies are simply crooked as can be! We are having wars everywhere on this planet for those corporations and young Americans have to fight them so those 1% CEO's can rape in ridiculous profit, Just look at the bryzinski case of stealing cancer cures by the FDA and the corporations. We need someone who will clean house.
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by jschmidt27 October 29, 2011 11:12 AM EDT
ANd Obama and the Dems are not the darling of the special interests such as unions and community groups. How much Wall Street Money are the Dems taking? WHy is the CEO of GE,which pays little in taxes, a ally of Obama. Don't be myopic. Obama and the Dems have created this dysfuntional government acting as obstructionists.
Seem to me Google has a bigger problem than spell check. THey are supporting Obama.
by bcpats October 29, 2011 8:27 AM EDT
Google is a big supporter/donor of/to Obama, so no surprise there.
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