Republicans step up effort to tie Obama to Carter

Chris Moody
·Political Reporter

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—When it comes to messaging, Republicans are going retro at the Democratic National Convention.

After bringing back Ronald Reagan's 1980 campaign question "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" as part of their counterprogramming, Republicans will release a new video comparing President Barack Obama to former President Jimmy Carter. The spot, which is not a television commercial, splices shots of Obama while Carter describes a struggling economy.

"The only two incumbent presidents who could not tell Americans that they are better off than they were when they took office are Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter," said Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus in a statement. "Gas prices are through the roof, our trade deficit is too high, spending is out of control, and unemployment is at record high levels. President Carter was right—'we are at a turning point in our history.' We need to fire President Obama, hire Governor Romney, and get our country turned around."

Carter will address the convention Tuesday evening by video.