2012: Strategizing
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 29% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the president is doing a good or an excellent job on the economy. That’s down from 30% in each of the last two weeks, down from 36% three weeks ago and the lowest ratings on the economy yet recorded for this president.
(You can find the entire summary of this recent survey here.)
However, recent Public Policy Polling polls show Obama tied with former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, and ahead of all the other Republican candidates in the current GOP field. The question is this: what do the Republicans have to do to take the White House next November? Will it be enough to merely focus on the economy? If so, what factors are going to push the Republican nominee past President Obama next November? If not, what strategies must the Republican nominee employ if he/she is going to win?
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Comments:
Aug '11
Re: 2012: Strategizing
It may be worth noting that PPP is a left-wing outfit, and has been known to oversample Democrats.
Re: 2012: Strategizing
Toni, first, welcome to Ricochet! I'm looking forward to reading everything I can get my beady little eyes on in the college feed.
To answer your questions, I think the President will be even more weakened by election day. Does that mean we should, focus simply on the economy? No sir. The weak economy results from his policies, which themselves result from his general vision.
What I would do is to broaden the focus and make this a contest of visions. On one side, we have a vision of a top-down, centrally managed and highly regulated society where a select few get to dictate virtually every aspect of the citizens' lives, finances, and even health. In return, the citizens are expected to give up more of their property, more of their decisions, and more of their sovereignty. The inescapable result of this vision is unfolding all around us.
On our side, we offer an easily understood vision. Liberty. The idea that we are sovereign, that the government works for us rather that the other way around, has proven time after time that it works. Contrast the shackles of the state with founding principles, and we win.
Oct '10
Re: 2012: Strategizing
If this election is a referendum on Obama, then Obama will lose.
OTOH, if the GOP candidate's competency or intelligence becomes the issue in 2012, then Obama has a chance at retaining the White House.
Re: 2012: Strategizing
There is a danger which may in the long run prove to be even greater than our nominee losing this race -- and that is that we nominate another managerial progressive who wins by promising to trim the budget modestly, reduce the deficit in inconsequential ways, and make the administrative state hum once again. Except in 1964, 1980, and 1984, that has been the argument made by the Republican nominee. If we fall into that trap in 2012, the Republican victory will soon turn into a Republican defeat -- as the adherents of the Tea Party Movement drift away from an unprincipled administration.
Re: 2012: Strategizing
Dave, thanks so much for your kind words! Hopefully I can get a hang of this thing quickly.
I really like what you've said here:
and I think that it combines nicely with what Paul's said here:
While the GOP will have to say everything you've outlined, we also need to make sure that the president elected will do everything he says. Only then will change be real and effective.
Re: 2012: Strategizing
Oh, and Drew, I did know that PPP was a left-leaning polling group, although I wasn't aware of how much some of their past data has been skewed. That certainly puts things in perspective.
Aug '11
Re: 2012: Strategizing
After I posted that, I thought "Well, that was a crappy way to welcome someone to Ricochet." My apologies. Dave Carter did it so much better.
Re: 2012: Strategizing
I think the key is where the Obama base goes. If they holdout, he'll have to actively court them, which would make him entirely unelectable. If they fall in line, it's tough to predict the power of the man's appeal and charisma. He's an empty suit - but that suite is fantastic. All in all, I think it's certainly still Obama's to lose.