Posted on 08/29/2012 2:33:55 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Alternate headline: "So far, so good."
I assume most of this is due to Ann, whose speech dwelled entirely on Mitt, versus Christie, who didn't mention him until 16 minutes in. But even so, this is interesting:
Romney had a 43-percent favorable and 44-percent unfavorable rating in nine battleground states heading into the convention, according to an average compiled by Real Clear Politics.
A survey conducted by Wilson Perkins Allen Opinion Research in nine battle ground states Tuesday evening found Romney’s favorable rating among likely voters had jumped to 48 percent. His unfavorable rating dipped to 39…
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s speech had the biggest impact of the convention so far, more than twice as popular as Ann Romney’s remarks on Tuesday, according to the poll.
Twelve percent of respondents rated Christie’s speech as their favorite, compared to five percent who favored Romney’s…
The good news is it’s a sample of likely voters. The bad news is that the sample’s small, just 303 people. Any news that Romney’s favorables might be improving after months of Obama attacks is worth blogging, but there’s really no way to tell from this whether he’ll get a meaningful bounce. Consider it a “good sign” and a further reason to watch Ryan tonight. My hunch is that if there’s any speech that’s likely to significantly help the ticket, it’s his, not Mitt’s tomorrow.
As for Christie’s speech, Politico claims people “close to Romney” are grumbling that it was a bust because it was more about him that it was about either Mitt or Obama. (Never mind that Romney’s team vetted the speech weeks ago.) If you’re going to get the big guy for your keynote, you want him in full tough-guy mode, throwing roundhouses, no? Actually, maybe not. Jay Cost makes the case:
One theme that connects the political victories of Barack Obama in 2008, George W. Bush in 2000, Bill Clinton in 1992, Ronald Reagan in 1980, Jimmy Carter in 1976, and all the way back to Thomas Jefferson in 1800 is a simple, powerful message: The other side has failed America, but we can do better.
If you look at the polling data, you can see pretty clearly that a Republican convention that focuses on the failures of Barack Obama would be tantamount to beating a dead horse…
The middle of the country is deeply disappointed in the job this president has done, and that has been the case basically for three years. What is left for the GOP ticket to do is to make the positive case for change. That is what we began to see last night.
It would be the height of political malpractice to fall into the false dichotomy the Democrats have been preaching – a “choice” versus a “referendum.” Every election is in fact both.
Fair point. After three and a half years, Obama’s negatives are essentially baked in the cake. All the GOP can do now is explain why they’d be better, which is why Ryan’s speech is the moment of truth. And in further defense of Christie, our media being as loathsome as it is, he would have been destroyed last night for gleefully pummeling Obama while Isaac is raging even though Obama’s out on the trail himself. Just one question, though: If you’re going for a purely positive message, why get Christie for the keynote? Rubio would have been much better in that role. You could have put Christie instead in the Thursday night slot to introduce Mitt and get the crowd fired up. I don’t quite get it.
He made the case that the Obama administration is a failure. Signed. Sealed. Delivered.
I find you PaulBots tiresome.
Stop calling yourselves “conservatives”. More to the point, STOP CALLING YOURSELVES REPUBLICANS!
You are totally delusional narcissists living in a make-believe world where someone who IS a jackass, comes riding in on a jackass and tilts at windmills with over-simplified solutions to life’s complex problems.
You’ve been reading too freakin’ many super-hero comic books.
Seriously.
I could be way off, but to me the conventions are more about solidifying and exciting the base. I think the Ryan pick already did that, so the convention is a success as long as it doesn’t do damage. Any gain will be marginal among independents IMO. I guess I could be wrong but I wonder how many regular voters really watch the conventions....I would assume in today’s TV/internet environment mostly political junkies that already have a “side” watch.
So the influence of the convention is mostly ancillary or sort of underground. All that Romney really needs to do now, IMO, to win, is to make the middle feel he is not a risk...that he is up to the task and he doesn’t flame out....while not ticking off the base.
The Ryan pick and the desire to get rid of Obama takes care of the base.
So the main thing is for Romney to look Presidential and for that to be the story coming out of the convention. Even if people don’t watch, it will sort of provide a momentum.
The specific things Christie or anyone actually SAY won’t matter unless it is foot in mouth.
Again, just my gut feel.
Right DU Troll. That’s why Romney continues to lead in both Gallup and Rasmussen, why he is ahead in MI and WI and tied in OH and ahead in FL and and and. Your disgusting and childish sniping just isn’t having its desired effect. Oh, snap!
80% of Americans despise RomneyCARE/ObamaCARE/DeathPanels.
Mr. RomneyCARE’s ONLY hope was with the Tea Party
whom he “stabbed in the back” (like the Palin children
in 2008). Too bad for you RINOs.
Have you read Limbaughs/Malkins take on pushing conservatives out of the Republican party with the rule changes? Are they Paulbots?
Mr. RomneyCARE is the DU imposter, like his
followers who support RomneyCARE and his other
idiocies.
“I assume most of this is due to Ann, whose speech dwelled entirely on Mitt, versus Christie, who didn’t mention him until 16 minutes in.”
I disagree. I think both contributed about equally. Ann Romney forcefully said THIS is the man for the job. You can count on him etc. and Christie essentially validated Romney’s choice of Ryan as a signal that the ticket was prepared to take the heat for taking on the hard issues squarely rather than ducking them. And it was all the more effective for not naming Obama directly. Was anyone in doubt who he was referring to when he alluded to politicians preoccupied with having America be loved instead of respected?
To me, it was a nice one-two punch. I’m in no way surprise Romney got a bump out of last night. Let’s hope it’s not just temporary.
Few pay attention to your spamming posts any more except extreme masochists....those in your tiny pack who get off on incessant anti-Romney, anti-Mormon, anti-Republicans, anti-everything and everybody.
You are personified in the title of the old film, "The Light That Failed".
Someone please bring a bucket of gatorade to put you and your lamp out of its misery.
Leni
Or DU trolls?
“Among conservatives, Mr. Romney’s popularity has fallen
due to his CONTINUING dirty tricks at the Convention
against real Conservatives and the TEA Party.”
diogenesis, you forgot to mention that Romney is a mormon, a fatal flaw based on your bias, but frequently mentioned by you none the less.
You have it backwards,
Mr. RomneyCARE is a RINO, not a moron.
His followers are morons.
If zer0 loses, what’s to stop him from trying to make a comeback in 2016? Isn’t that how it goes in a lot of third world countries? These vermin never just go away, ever.
A third party would make it possible to win with 42%. IIRC, we’ve already seen that movie.
Palin does a lot of talking. There was a coterie here willing to follow her off the ends of the earth until she said things with which they disagreed. I would really like to see a poll on her favorables. I will bet they are about the same as Ron Paul’s.
IOW, anyone who wishes to start a 3rd party is totally free to do so, but not one has succeeded beyond an initial burst of enthusiasm in the 51 years I’ve been eligible to vote. The perennials, like Paul and Nader, are simply in it for payback and the contributions, which they never seem to spend on anything except themselves.
Third, because I don't agree with some things the establishment types do, doesn't mean that I don't see the MAIN job here is unelecting Obama and therefore electing Romney. ANYONE who stands in the way of that is indeed a Paulbot/DUer.
This yahoo has been here for months, NEVER had a constructive thing to say about ANYTHING the GOP does. Translation: he's a troll.
Funny, I just did a poll and 80% of Freepers despise YOU, DU troll.
But you only polled the RomneyBOTs and poseurs.
Try a conservative, LS.
Chris Christie’s speech was not about Mitt Romney 2012, it was about Chris Christie 2016. I hope he finds a diet book soon. Maybe three or four.
I asked whether you read Limbaughs/Malkins take on pushing conservative out via the convention. (....ignore....) Those frickin' trolls. I get ya.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.