Why Romney needs to talk about himself
I mentioned in a brief comment yesterday that Mitt Romney has to do more than attack President Obama’s record if he’s to win this election. He has to convince voters he’s a credible alternative they can trust with the job.
I planned to expound on that thought in a future blog post, but Sean Trende of Real Clear Politics beat me to the punch.
Trende begins his piece — worth reading in its entirety — by noting some key findings of a recent Pew poll:
- Just 8 percent of registered voters say they need to know more about Obama.
- More than three times as many, 28 percent, say they need to know more about Romney.
Specifically, Trende writes, among the voters most likely to still be making up their minds, independents,
… 42 percent say they want to know more about his record as governor, 37 percent want to know more about his record as CEO of Bain Capital, and 35 percent want to know more about his tax returns. Just 21 percent of independents want to know more about his wealth, 19 percent want to know more about his family and upbringing, and 16 percent want to know more about his religious beliefs.”
This, Trende explains, is indicative of the kind of election which is a referendum on the incumbent. In such contests, he says, voters ask themselves two questions: “First, do I want the president to be re-elected? Second, is the challenger so unacceptable that I simply can’t bring myself to vote for him?”
Almost all voters have made up their minds about Obama, so question 2 is clearly in play at this point. And yet, the Romney campaign is spending almost its time and money attacking Obama rather than explaining who Romney is — leaving it to the Obama campaign to define Romney on its own. Negatively, of course.
Trende theorizes that Obama’s negative ads may not have moved the needle in opinion polls yet because undecided voters are waiting to hear what Romney has to say about himself.
Right or wrong about that last point — I’m not really sure — Trende is spot-on correct about the rest in my view. Pointing out that the economy is still stagnant is fine, but it’s inadequate. Romney has to explain who he is, what he wants to do, and how the former proves he can accomplish the latter.
There will be opportunities to do that: The Republican Party’s convention late next month will (or should) be a time for the GOP to burnish Romney’s image and tell his story. The question is whether he can wait until Labor Day to begin defining himself. I tend to think not.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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385 comments Add your comment
JamVet
July 25th, 2012
6:19 pm
Yet more evidence of just how insane the guy is:
This week, Mitt Romney is traveling to London and attending an elite fundraiser, charging $25,000 to $75,000 per plate, hosted by the banking CEOs at the center of the LIBOR interest rate-fixing scandal.
According to reporting by The Washington Post, executives of several banks under investigation for illegally manipulating interest rates are acting as co-chairs of the Romney fundraiser.
Welcome to the corporatocracy!
And you economic liberals are overjoyed that these elected representatives NO LONGER work for you but instead for their hugely monied “corproate personhood” paymasters…
SOVEREIGNTY FOR SALE! SOVEREIGNTY FOR SALE!
RC--APOI
July 25th, 2012
6:19 pm
Well, it’s just a shame so many people don’t like Romney. I mean, fire a few hundred thousand people, ship their jobs overseas, and then tell people how much you like it and then people raise a real stink! I bet if his Mom was alive she’d like him. But then, maybe not. Romney’s the kind of guy you couldn’t hardly wait to beat up after school—you know, teacher’s pet and always dressed perfect.
Tho I got to admit I’d sure like to see those tax returns. I wonder if he wrote off the cost of that car elevator. Anyway, I think the less he says about hisself, the better. He’s already got enough that don’t like him. He don’t need to rile up more.
F. Sinkwich
July 25th, 2012
6:21 pm
“Princeton, NJ – Democrats are significantly less likely now (39%) than they were in the summers of 2004 and 2008 to say they are “more enthusiastic about voting than usual” in the coming presidential election. Republicans are more enthusiastic now than in 2008, and the same as in 2004.”
No surprise here. Based on their vote in 2008, the Dems should hang their heads in shame and beg for forgiveness from their fellow Americans.
F. Sinkwich
July 25th, 2012
6:25 pm
“Welcome to the corporatocracy!”
The evil corportors!
When can we expect an always popular Pluto-people reference?
Bob Baldwin
July 25th, 2012
6:28 pm
Thanks for the advice Dusty, but I have insurance that pays for my regular visit to the shrink.
however your suggestion may help some others here get the medical help they need.
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
July 25th, 2012
6:30 pm
Dusty @6:18, you are a treasure!
MarkV
July 25th, 2012
6:39 pm
Some people may indeed want to know more about Romney, but if they “are waiting to hear what Romney has to say about himself” for that purpose, they are only deceiving themselves. It has become abundantly clear that Romney will say anything to get himself elected, and nothing he says shows what he actually would do as President.
F. Sinkwich
July 25th, 2012
6:45 pm
“…and nothing he says shows what he actually would do as President.”
You are so right, Mark.
All he does is spout this Hope & Change stuff!
Oh, wait…
Just Bush - But Updated
July 25th, 2012
6:46 pm
Alexandra Franceschi is Specialty Media Press Secretary of the Republican National Committee.
ESPUELAS: Now, how different is that concept from what were the policies of the Bush administration? And the reason I ask that is because there’s some analysis now that is being published talking about the Bush years being the slowest period of job creation since those statistics were created. Is this a different program or is this that program just updated?
FRANCESCHI: I think it’s that program, just updated.
It’s the Romney Campaign saying that he will use the disasterous Bush economic policies….
md
July 25th, 2012
6:47 pm
““The Fed, like every other major central bank in the world, is independent and Congress has rightly insulated the Fed from short-term political pressures,” Hoyer said.”
Isn’t it funny how we had all this yelling and screaming about the Wall St banks and now that the misfits are willing to look into the biggest bank of them all we get this??
td
July 25th, 2012
6:49 pm
Auntie Christ
July 25th, 2012
1:40 pm
This should help capture the blue collar vote, it will establish romney’s connection to the working man:
“Dressage cost Romney $77,000 in 2010, money that was spent on the feeding and care of Ann Romney’s co-owned horse, Rafalca, which will compete in the summer Olympics. The Romneys were able to declare the expenses as a tax-deductible loss.
This amount is considerably more than what the average American household earned in 2010—$49,445, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.”
I wonder how many jobs this has created?
Well there was the trainers job and I am sure there was a stable boy that feed the horse. How about the man that owns the boarding place the horse is at? The Vet that takes care of the horse? The people that built the trailer that hauls the horse to events?
Should I go on? The real question is how many jobs would have been lost if not for this tax break and how many jobs would have been lost if Romney paid this money to the government and did not have it to spend on this effort?
I can tell you if this money went to the government then it would have produced 1 government worker job.
md
July 25th, 2012
6:49 pm
“My personal guess about his college records is that he applied as a foreign student in order to qualify for financial aid.”
Which would certainly nullify that birth certificate wouldn’t it? Or make the man a major liar like the indian up in MA.
You libs
July 25th, 2012
6:52 pm
Yes, he needs to talk about himself more but for God’s sake don’t let him start telling the truth. He needs to tell the story about when he saved that disabled old lady from the angry mob of liberals who turned on her when they realized that through the strength of her will and her commitment to creating jobs, she made more money than they did.
You know, that kind of stuff.
@@
July 25th, 2012
6:54 pm
As the economy tanked, the average number of births per woman fell 12% from a peak of 2.12 in 2007. Demographic Intelligence projects the rate to hit 1.87 this
year and 1.86 next year — the lowest since 1987.
The less-educated and Hispanics have experienced the biggest birthrate decline while the share of U.S. births to college-educated, non-Hispanic whites and Asian Americans has grown.–USAToday
How is that possible with the GOP’s war on women and their contraceptives.
schnirt
md
July 25th, 2012
6:54 pm
“All my future bird hunting trips will be medical expenses; walking is good physical exercise.”
Make you a deal…..you inflict yourself with MS and we won’t worry about you writing off your hunting trips……if you are able to take them.
md
July 25th, 2012
6:58 pm
” I mean, fire a few hundred thousand people, ship their jobs overseas, and then tell people how much you like it and then people raise a real stink! ”
You are aware that most of the Nation knows this talking point has been taken out of context and only makes you look silly….right?
md
July 25th, 2012
7:02 pm
“This week, Mitt Romney is traveling to London and attending an elite fundraiser, charging $25,000 to $75,000 per plate, hosted by the banking CEOs at the center of the LIBOR interest rate-fixing scandal.”
Now that makes 2 of them then doesn’t it. But I tend to be more interested in Obama fundraising from the guys at Solyndra……give them our dollars, those guys take the money and run after closing Solyndra, and then show back up at a fundraiser……..
Follow the bouncing ball…..tax dollars from Obama to Obama……..
You libs
July 25th, 2012
7:04 pm
I just can’t believe that this once proud nation has been so reduced by the right-wing noise machine to this. I just never thought it would be possible. We put a man on the moon, for goodness sake.
Well, at least the scientists SAY we put a man on the moon. What is FoxNews and Rush Limbaugh’s position on this?
How Inciteful Is That!
July 25th, 2012
7:28 pm
“I see a need to weigh the outcomes carefully–attack Obama or tell the voters the whole truth about Bain and job creation and off-shore tax havens, etc. Attack Obama, it’s your only hope, Mitt.” – An honest Romney Adviser
dabir dalton
July 25th, 2012
7:44 pm
As Governor Mitt governed like a liberal now he’s running as a conservative for president.
Romney made his fortune in an industry {Financial sector} that specializes in the financial rape of the working class.
Romney espouses an ideology – Conservatism – that seeks to justify the financial rape of the working class.
In short Romney is a liar {flip flopper} and a con man who intends to finish what Bush the younger started – To bankrupt our nation.
Seems to me Kyle he’s better off remaining quiet about himself.
Ronnie Raygun
July 25th, 2012
8:05 pm
Yeah, Bernie Madoff Jr. should tell America who he really is. Then he’d lose by an even bigger landslide.
Ronnie Raygun
July 25th, 2012
8:08 pm
“I love outsourcing jobs and putting Americans out of work. After all, that’s how I got rich.” ~ Mitt Romney
They BOTH suck
July 25th, 2012
8:35 pm
schnirt: translation……….. I really do not have much facts t back up what I post but I will still put my exclamation point on it.
Talk radio and talk points are the best I have so …….. shnirt
Dusty
July 25th, 2012
8:59 pm
Rafe @ 6:30
Thank you for the kind words.
Have you ever seen so many liberals trying to say something bad about Romney? They just can’t adjust to great intellect, vast experience in business and governance, fine family, total honesty and a pleasing appearance. He’s got it all and nothing can change that. The fact that Romney is also modest seems to irritate liberals. That he is wealthy also irritates them. Wealth envy gnaws at them.
Romney “outshines” Obama in so many ways it is almost laughable. When Americans think about the last few years of Obama and compare with the attributes and experience of Romney, we will soon have a president with presidential abilities. Americans were fooled once but they won’t repeat that mistake again. Ah yes!! President Romney!
Bruno
July 25th, 2012
9:11 pm
Someone remind me next time not to run a 5K in the 100 degree heat. PB almost got heat stroke…..
ragnar danneskjold
July 25th, 2012
9:18 pm
Romney is not exactly an unknown commodity. Among the people who actually think about political matters, his role in the Salt Lake City Olympics will perhaps be his strongest selling point – “his executive performance at a not-for-profit entity.” Given the disastrous performance in a similar role by the current occupant of the Oval Office, and Chauncey’s total lack of successful management anywhere in his immediately-prior career as “community organizer,” Mr. Romney need not show any more.
ragnar danneskjold
July 25th, 2012
9:21 pm
With the total mismanagement of the Federal budget over the past three years, we need someone willing to lop off entire unproductive agencies: Education (never educated the first student), Energy (yet to produce its first erg), Labor, FNMA, FHLMC, EPA, FDA, and any other agency that arguably causes any constraint on economic growth.
Dusty
July 25th, 2012
9:22 pm
hmmm I will be glad when our baby-sitting days are over. Pleae pass the strained apple sauce. Thank you.
there once was a blog in “moderation”.
because someone lost their consideration.
resorted to lowly obsfucation
and many lost their toleration
ah free speech in this great nation
ruined by raucous rumination
so Kyle, cease the domination
we’ll behave with celebration!
Yes????
fair and balanced
July 25th, 2012
9:22 pm
“We have given YOU PEOPLE all you need ” now go do some chores.
Old Timer
July 25th, 2012
10:07 pm
Romney will produce two years of tax returns–he needs to get Obama to release his education records, birth records, job records and the rest–Obama’s tax records are just a snif in the wind. This has been the most ugly disjointed campaign I have witness in my 78 years–you can blame it on TV and Instant Messaging. Take away that and you have a dull campaign, and everyone reverts to this own economic position. Subtract entitlements and you get the real picture.
jconservative
July 25th, 2012
10:08 pm
I completely agree with the basics of this column. Romney needs to get the tax returns and the offshore bank accounts out in the open and he needs to do it now. Today the election is about Romney. The election must be about Obama and his performance as president, or Romney will lose.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
July 25th, 2012
10:08 pm
It would sure be “fun” to hear Romney talk about his thinking when 9.2 million Americans went off and served in our Armed Forces during Vietnam, and he pulled strings in the Mormon church to get a draft-dodger slot in another state because his home state’s allotment for “pious” dodgers was full-up. Then he got an extension for his “mission work” in France until the draft-lottery was instituted and he drew a high number.
What a patriot! What a “man!” lol What a clown pansy loser zombie.
P.S. There’s only one Creator, G-d of the universe: America’s sovereign. Dulce et Decorum est Pro Patria Mori.
yuzeyurbrane
July 25th, 2012
11:19 pm
You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
Auntie Christ
July 26th, 2012
12:38 am
md 649: “My personal guess about his college records is that he applied as a foreign student in order to qualify for financial aid.”
Which would certainly nullify that birth certificate wouldn’t it? Or make the man a major liar like the indian up in MA.”
Man you cons have learned the pox news/ limbaugh/ boor tz/ brietbart methodology well. Start out by a ‘personal guess,’ couple that with a false meme like the birther issue, use these as proof he is a ‘liar,’ and voila! you have a new right wing ‘truth. pox /limbaugh/ boor tz / brietbart can then ‘report’ this new ‘fact’ to the gullible, to spread to the more gullible, to spread to the even more gullible etc.
What a concept!
Auntie Christ
July 26th, 2012
1:27 am
td @ 649 “Well there was the trainers job and I am sure there was a stable boy that feed the horse. How about the man that owns the boarding place the horse is at? The Vet that takes care of the horse? The people that built the trailer that hauls the horse to events?”
Well first of all, let me commend romney for not finding some way to ship all these jobs you mention overseas. Now I have to ask what is the problem you cons have with paying an unemployed factory worker extended unemployment benefits of $300 week? He certainly isn’t hiring any stable boys, but he’s paying the grocer, the shoe store, he’s buying gas at the stop-n-go to get to job interviews, he’s paying the banker or a landlord for his domicile instead of stiffing them for the mortgage or rent, he’s paying the power company, the gas company etc etc etc. Nonetheless all we hear from you and your brethren is that they are a ‘drain’ on society, while romney’s expenses for his horse’s upkeep are, according to you, good for the economy.
Wingfield’s lede is, romney has to talk about himself. Well, let him talk about how much he is paying the stable boy and the trainer. Is he offering benefits with the position, paid vacations and holidays. Implied in my comment was how a factory worker paying 18-25% in income tax on his labor will view willard’s taking a deduction for his dancing horse that allows him to pay only 15% in income taxes. If willard can point to the good wage and benefits he is paying to that stable boy it might give him some cred with the blue collar.
And as always whenever you cons defend the gazillionaires, you always make it seem like taxing them is only an insignificant sum “compared to what the government spends/takes in/wastes yada yada, or in this case it would only ‘create 1 government job.’ How bout this, the $77K deduction romney took for his wife’s hobby saved him about $10K in taxes. Eliminate this deduction for hobbiies masquerading as a business for a million more of these gazillionaires, who deduct their polo ponies, yachts, champion dogs, etc and we end up with $10 billion, more than the TSPLOST will yield over ten years here in metro ATL. We could get the iimprovements needed in our transportation and not pay the 1% you so strenuously object to.
Auntie Christ
July 26th, 2012
1:43 am
md @ 210: Incorrect…..it is a business deduction for the care of a medical expense. yes, please do get your facts correct.
What? I hope you don’t do your own taxes, else you’ll be commenting fro Leavenworth soon. A business deduction for the care of a medical expense. What orifice did you pull that out of? I don’t know what romney’s position will be tomorrow on this since he changes positions more than his shirts, but his explanation is he hopes to win a gold medal in London, which will allow him to charge huge stud fees. This revenue will be offset by the expenses he has incurred to date for the horse. Since it is good therapy for his wife, he probably could have claimed a medical deduction instead, but being the astute business man he is, (well we have to take his word on that, absent any tax returns that might show otherwise) he chose to take the deduction as a business expense. So again, get your facts straight before you criticize someone of ‘insensitivity.’
The Kid
July 26th, 2012
4:10 am
Romney doesn’t know himself. He would have to be scripted for whomever he would be talking to at the time.
AU Liberal in ATL
July 26th, 2012
6:53 am
He’s changed his position on every single issue. He won’t give a straight answer to any question. He obviously has something to hide. He says he doesn’t want to release his taxes because of what the Democrats will do with them. If that’s the case, why release any of them. Not releasing his taxes seems to be the only thing he’s actually committed to. If he’s not rambling, he’s lying. I don’t know what his motivation is for wanting to be president, but I suspect that it’s nothing more than wanting his protrait hung alongside our other presidents. He just wants a presidential legacy. I would not vote for Romney under any circumstance.
GT
July 26th, 2012
7:37 am
Who Romney brings to the political area with him is very important in defining who he is just like who Bush brought. We got one impression about Bush, yet the country was run by Chaney and Runsfeld to the point that Powell resigned and Rice was a weak voice in the back row. The same storm is coming again if Romney is elected. He is another front man for some dark characters only higher volume. Follow the money and you will see all you need to know about Romney. What we can’t follow the money, hidden donors, superpacs, and refusing to give tax returns. In the end Obama wins, to some it is better to know the devil within than the stranger outside.
GT
July 26th, 2012
7:41 am
What we can’t follow the money? Hidden donors, superpacs, and refusing to give tax returns could he be hiding who is really running this campaign? In the end Obama wins, to some it is better to know the devil within than the stranger outside.
bill
July 26th, 2012
7:42 am
The only reason they are voting for this awful candidate is because he is white no more no less. He owned a company that raped other companies and threw people to the street. Another vietnam draft dodger. Why do people have the illusion the right are better on war when they all avoid service? Bush dodged, Cheney he said he more important things to do, Karl Rove, Mitt. Its funny how they really control the media and the message.
Bob
July 26th, 2012
7:52 am
Finn McFool, all you have are “mute” points.
gm
July 26th, 2012
7:57 am
What is there to learn? the man helped outsource jobs for years, and now he stands in front of idiots on the right and ask for their vote.
The man has hide billions around the world, his tax return will prove, if this was any Dem during this the right wing nut jobs would be around the clock especially idiots viewers of fox reporting this story.
Willis
July 26th, 2012
8:27 am
Romney won’t talk about himself because what he says one day will change the next. He won’t reveal his tax returns because he says the Democrats would pick them apart – what does he expect? Too bad he or none of his sons have military service records – he would find those picked apart too. Romney is a book with a lock on the cover.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
July 26th, 2012
8:28 am
“Nobody cares that Romney is rich. It’s Romney’s inability to understand the institutional advantage that he gains from the government’s tax code largesse. That’s a little offensive to people, especially considering Romney’s view on anyone else who looks to the government for things like, I don’t know, food and medicine.”
Jon Stewart
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
July 26th, 2012
8:32 am
So, it’s ok to take $700,000 in tax breaks for your horse but other people shouldn’t be looking for free stuff…like medical help or food or education?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
July 26th, 2012
8:37 am
Note to East Lake IRA: If you want to know more about Mitt Romney’s tax returns, I suggest you become his accountant.
But I suspect you’re not even remotely qualified for the job.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
July 26th, 2012
8:38 am
md: Taken out of context?
It’s a flat-out LIE!
Kyle Wingfield
July 26th, 2012
8:50 am
Comment moderation is now off for the day, a little later than usual. A reminder to those who complained about it overnight: ALL comments are going through moderation between (roughly) the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., due to the inability of too many commenters to keep it civil during the night hours.
And sorry, Dusty, but just when I was thinking of going back to 24/7 commenting, we had another problem Tuesday night. So it’s not going away anytime soon.
carlosgvv
July 26th, 2012
8:52 am
Romney has no one to blame but himself for this. He was one kind of politician when Governor of Mass. As a presidential candidate, he has flip-floped to the point of being virtually unrecognizable. When asked to explain this amazing transformation, he just smiles, hems and haws and finally gives totally unsatisfactory answers.
This kind of behavior will not help him get elected.