Obama, Romney Preview Negative Campaign
If there was any doubt the general election is underway, President Obama’s scathing critique of the GOP’s free-market economic philosophy yesterday should unofficially seal the nomination for Romney. Obama’s speech, describing the GOP’s entitlement reforms as “social Darwinism,” was unusually personal for a presidential speech (it attacked Romney for using the word “marvelous”), and signals the White House is prepared for a fierce fight.
Romney countered with his own sharp jabs at Obama in his victory speech last night, portraying the president as stuck in a White House bubble, unaware of the economic hardships that many Americans are facing. He made the case that Obama wants to “transform” the country into a government-centered society.
Despite Romney being cast as a milquetoast moderate, this election is shaping up to be an all-out ideological battle for the vision of the future of the country – if the dueling speeches were any indication. Obama made a full-throated case for more government involvement and regulation, in portraying the GOP’s vision of the future as downright radical. Gone were the days of compromise; this was a populist speech designed to resonate with the progressive base.
Romney, meanwhile, has been more outspoken about his desire to rein in spending and tackle the third rail of entitlement spending. In a notable change, there was very little talk about his biography. It was House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan, the GOP’s controversial face of entitlement reform, that introduced him last night – not his wife. And there are signs that Team Romney is seriously considering Ryan as a running mate, in order to brand the ticket as one focused on fiscal responsibility – which would be an enormous risk for a play-it-safe pol, like Romney.
The one connecting theme to both Obama and Romney’s speeches was that they focused on attacking their opponents, but offered precious little details about their own future vision. Obama can’t win just by demonizing his opponent; voters want to see a vision of the future for the man leading the country. And Romney will have to spell out the implications of entitlement cutbacks; he can’t just elicit his vision of a bygone America gone south without offering straight talk about his own plans.
This is an election about the country’s future. Which candidate does a better job of defining it will be in prime position to be sworn in January 2013.
-- Hotline Executive Editor Josh Kraushaar
NATIONAL JOURNAL’S PRIMARY REPORT
Romney: No Time For Obama’s ‘Hide-And-Seek Campaign’ NEW!
[National Journal, 4/4/12] Fresh from his latest primary triumphs, Romney zoned in on an argument that Obama is attacking the GOP because he doesn’t have any accomplishments of his own to tout. Meanwhile Paul Ryan took to the airwaves to call the president's sharp attack on the GOP budget plan that Ryan drafted "distortive of the truth."
Here’s Some Advice For Romney NEW!
[National Journal, 4/4/12] National Journal’s Matthew Dowd has some suggestions for the all-but-inevitable GOP nominee as the campaign moves from the primary contest to a 200-day war against Obama. Dowd writes that Romney needs a sound strategy and effective overall message to carry him into the fall.
Obama in 2012: Shades of ‘96 NEW!
[National Journal, 4/4/12] The template for Obama’s re-election effort could well be Bill Clinton’s successful 1996 run against Bob Dole, as National Journal’s Michael Hirsh writes. Clinton sought early on to tie the center-right Kansas senator to the then-far-right Newt Gingrich – now, Obama is seeking to join Romney at the hip of a Tea-Party-driven congressman, Ryan.
Romney’s Health Care Scare Averted NEW!
[National Journal, 4/4/12] The highly publicized Supreme Court hearings over the president’s healthcare overhaul offered Romney’s opponents the perfect opportunity to bash him over Romneycare. But Romney’s trio of victories Tuesday could vanquish one of the biggest ghosts haunting his primary campaign.
New Romney Ad Says Obama Slinging Mud to Cover Up Oil Prices NEW!
[National Journal, 4/4/12] Romney launched a new campaign ad on Wednesday attacking Obama for trying to distract from what the ad calls the administration's failed energy policies by blaming the GOP for rising prices at the pump.
Santorum Staying in GOP Race Despite Fading Hopes
[Philadelphia Inquirer, 4/4/12] Six years ago, Keystone State voters bounced Santorum from the Senate as he was seeking a third term representing the state. Now, he is looking again to them to keep his fading presidential hopes alive.
Romney Makes Inroads With Santorum Supporters in Wisconsin
[National Journal, 4/3/12] Romney made modest gains Tuesday among the segments of the GOP electorate most resistant to his candidacy, including groups that have generally gone for Santorum like superconservatives and the tea party. National Journal’s Steve Shepard weighs in on the exit polls.
Editorial: Non-Romneys Need to Question Why They’re Still in Race NEW!
[Wall Street Journal, 4/3/12] Romney swept to three more primary victories Tuesday, gathering ever more delegates that make the road to the GOP presidential nomination that much more unlikely for Santorum and other competitors. The question the non-Romneys have to face, writes The Journal's editorial page, is what purpose is served by continuing to stay in the race.
Poll: Education Major Issue For Independent Women NEW!
[Politico, 4/4/12] Some seventy percent of independent women in nine swing states view education as "extremely important," as voters in those states overall put education right behind jobs and the economy as a key issue, a new private survey shows.
Romney Cleaned Up; It's Still Gonna Cost Him NEW!
[New Republic, 4/3/12] The bad news for Romney is that his Wisconsin win probably wasn’t solid enough to drive Santorum from the race before May, when there are a number of Southern contests—Arkansas, North Carolina, Kentucky, Texas—that he's likely to steal from the de facto nominee.
In Maryland, D.C., Wisconsin, Romney Finds His Kind of Voters
[Washington Post, 4/3/12] The voters who went to the polls on Tuesday didn’t want to send a message. They wanted a man for a job: beating Obama. The electorate in Maryland, D.C. and Wisconsin included fewer evangelicals, a wider range of political beliefs, and more wealthy voters than previous states.
Santorum May Drop Out Rather Than Lose Home State of Pennsylvania
[The Hill, 4/4/12] One of Santorum’s close friends, Republican senator from Pennsylvania Jake Corman, told The Hill that while the candidate remains confident about using a win in his home state to build May momentum, if it looks like he won’t win the Keystone State he may drop his campaign.
Interactive Map: Who Won Where in Wisconsin
[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 4/4/12] Here’s a helpful, county-by-county interactive map displaying Wisconsin primary results.
McCain Endorses Palin For … VP?
[National Journal, 4/4/12] Arizona Sen. John McCain may have been having a little fun this morning when asked a question about Sarah Palin and the vice presidency: he said with a chuckle that he thought Romney should pick Palin as his running mate.
Column: Are Women Just Not That Into Mitt?
[Washington Post, 4/3/12] The Post’s Kathleen Parker writes that Ann Romney’s comments about “unzipping” Romney coincided with new poll data showing her husband’s lack of popularity among women. Was it something the GOP candidates said about birth control? Meanwhile, Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., tried to sell the Romney pitch to women on Wednesday.
The Hard Road Ahead For Rick Santorum
[National Journal, 4/3/12] Santorum may have finally watched his presidential hopes evaporate in a trio of losses Tuesday night. Now, he must wait three weeks before he can potentially reclaim momentum in a quintet of states on April 24, including his home state of Pennsylvania.
In Wisconsin Exit Polls, Hints at November Leanings
[New York Times, 4/3/12] In Tuesday’s Badger State primary, voters chose the economy as more important than social issues and the ability to defeat Obama as the top qualification in a candidate. Eight out of 10 Wisconsin voters said they thought Romney would be the party’s standard-bearer.
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