Posted on 04/06/2012 2:06:49 PM PDT by upchuck
As Mitt Romney assumes the role of presumptive Republican nominee, polls suggest a competitive general election matchup between the former Massachusetts governor and President Obama. Typically, both candidates poll in the mid-40s, while 10 to 12 percent remain uncommitted to either side.
Among these uncommitted voters, Rasmussen Reports polling shows that just 22 percent approve of the way the president is handling his job. Seventy-two percent (72 percent) disapprove. As for intensity, just 2 percent strongly approve, and 40 percent strongly disapprove.
At first glance, this seems like good news for Romney. These uncommitted voters will be difficult for the president to win over. But it raises another question: If these uncommitted voters are so unhappy with the president, why aren't they already Romney supporters?
The data suggest that voters are less than thrilled with the choices they'll have in November. The lack of enthusiasm for Romney among GOP voters has been well documented. Among Democrats, enthusiasm for their candidate is noticeably down, as well. Among young voters, for example, just 20 percent strongly approve of the job the president is doing.
Most young voters, of course, will still end up voting for the president just as most disgruntled Republicans will end up voting for Romney. But neither candidate connects well with white working-class voters. Romney has struggled to win over these voters in his primary contests, and Obama lost them to Hillary Clinton in the 2008 Democratic primaries. For many, Election 2012 is shaping up to be another choice between the lesser of two evils.
One reason can be found in the issue that stirred more political passion than any other over the past four years. The bailouts remain the most hated pieces of legislation in recent American history. They spurred both the tea party and the Occupy movements and convinced millions that a corrupt relationship exists between big government and big business. But both Romney and Obama are supporters of the bailouts. Given the public mood, it is almost beyond comprehension that neither party could come up with a presidential candidate opposed to the bailouts.
Looking ahead, most voters hear a lot of rhetoric about deficit reduction but don't believe either party has proposed a serious plan to stop ever-increasing government spending. Most don't even believe that the budget cuts agreed to during the debt ceiling debacle will ever be implemented. Politicians have spent years trying to blame voters for this problem, but my book "The People's Money" shows that voters are far more willing than their politicians to make the hard choices.
The disconnect can be found on other major issues, as well. On national security matters, GOP Congressman Paul Ryan's budget calls for cutting everything but defense spending, a position shared by just a third of voters. The president wants to trim the military budget but expand U.S. intervention into a growing list of countries. But 75 percent reject that approach and believe U.S. troops should be deployed abroad only when vital national security interests are at stake. Half of the nation's voters are even ready to follow President Eisenhower's advice and bring home U.S. troops from Western Europe and Japan.
There are certainly differences between Obama and Romney. People will find plenty of valid reasons to select one over the other. But if the winner of Election 2012 governs as he campaigns, the disconnect will continue, and voters will grow even angrier.
Uncommitted voters I want it all my way or Obama gets the vote.
Some people just flat out love misery.
I am voting for ‘None of the Above’
Odd then that Ron Paul polls so poorly, especially on foreign policy.
George Soros has said that there is no difference between BHO2 and Romney.
One is a communist (Marxist-Leninist) and the other a fascist (national socialist). Both believe government is God and neither has any respect for the U.S.Constitution.
Neither gives a damn about the rights of individuals. The common man, or woman, on the street is just a “unit” to be taxed or obliterated, it matters not to them.
The last thing that either man wants is for conservatives with Bibles and guns asserting their God-given rights and demanding that Washington, D.C., changes how it does business.
A vote for ‘None of the Above’ means you’re voting for Obama!
Vote Libertarian. I am.
Exactly. Not sure exactly what is going on; but is bad for us.
This whole election has been beyond comprehension. Maybe when the GOP loses again, as surely Romney will, we'll get a new party out of it.
Well put SD and right on!!
Voters are smarter than you give think.
Whether he knew or did not know about the bigotted and racist content of newsletters with his name on them, the fact they exist indicates two things: Ron Paul was grossly negligent to allow his name to used on newsletters he claims to have neither reviewed nor read, or he is flat out lying. These are not qualities anyone wants in a President.
“The buck stops here”, was a placard Pres. Harry S. Truman prominently displayed on his White House desk. This is called integrity, and the incompetence of Ron Paul is so blatant, anyone with common sense wouldn’t vote for him.
Willard is more like the presumptuous Republican candidate.
Looks like four more years of BO and don’t blame the voters..blame the establishment,Coulter,Fudge,Ingraham and a host of other talkshow Rombots who pushed this lib loser like he was the next Reagan. When in fact he is closer to Ted Kennedy or even Barack Obama (minus the dyed in the wool radical marxism)
Phooey!
Who’s the candidate?
Nope, the Crypts will just blame the true conservatives for staying home and the Bloods will point fingers at the Crypts for abusing power and cheating, just like in the past.
Obama v Romney: More of the Same vs Less of the Same...
Wonderful Choice! The GOP’s ability to find the one candidate who could actually lose to Obama simply beggars belief!
The convention is in May. I’m hoping the nominee is Gary Johnson but I will vote for whoever gets the nomination.
Since Pubbies want the white Obama so bad to be the nominee let’s just keep the original in office. I’m actually curious to see how thugly Obama gets with those who disagree with him in his second term.
Wrong, FRiend. A vote for ABOOR means you're voting such that whichever socialist wins, Obama or Romney, wins by the smallest plurality possible. Either one who gets in office with say, a 40 percent pluralty, 55 or 60 percent of actual voters opposed by splitting to others, is weakened politically. Whichever socialist gets the office needs to be as weak as possible for there to be any hope in fighting liberalism, which is the real enemy.
If the RNC thinks they can take my vote for granted, then screw them. I am staying home this year.
I have lost all faith in the American political process. The fascists have won. It’s all over now except for the shooting.
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