Posted on 09/08/2012 10:09:39 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
I wrote a few days ago that if the Democrats could maintain the enthusiasm they showed on the first day of their convention for all three days, Mitt Romney would be in serious trouble.
They did, and he is.
If this is not what the polls currently show, try to remember that polls are not destiny. And you should not let them shape it.
Democratic enthusiasm — real fire-in-the-belly enthusiasm — is a killer for Romney for one big reason: There is no sizable pro-Romney movement in this country. There has been a sizable anti-Obama movement.
There are relatively few Republicans deeply in love with Romney. (I except his family, friends and paid staff.)
There never has been. Romney won his nomination by being the most electable general election candidate in a weak and whacky primary field.
He won, in other words, not by devotion, but by default.
His campaign is fueled by dislike for and disappointment with Barack Obama. That dislike and disappointment is real.
In 1996, the last time a Democratic president ran for reelection, there was a significant anti-Bill Clinton movement in this country. This was before the Monica Lewinsky scandal. But a lot of right-wingers hated Bill Clinton and felt he was guilty of unspeakable crimes like murder and drug-trafficking. That didn’t mean there was a significant pro-Bob Dole movement, however. And Clinton won easily by 8.5 percentage points.
This is not 1996, the economy is bad, the cast of characters has changed and nobody is going to win by 8.5 percentage points. But the dynamic is the same: It is harder to turn out a vote against someone than a vote for someone.
Anger is not a movement. Disappointment is not a cause. And passionate support is an antidote to both.
Except for a very sloppy bobble over their platform, the Democrats staged a masterful convention. It went from Michelle to Bill to Biden and Barack. The emotion built every night and something very unusual was revealed.
There has been a shocking transformation in the American political landscape.
As Jeff Zeleny of The New York Times tweeted Thursday night: “A striking difference between conventions: Military service, patriotism are center stage at Democratic convention and nearly absent at GOP.”
Virtually overnight, the Democrats have become the party of strength and loyalty to country. This is a huge role reversal.
And Mitt Romney gave the Democrats an opening by what he said — or, rather, failed to say — in his acceptance speech in Tampa last week.
As Sen. John Kerry, Democrat from Massachusetts, said in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday night: “No nominee for president should ever fail in the midst of a war to pay tribute to our troops overseas in his acceptance speech. They are on the front lines every day defending America, and they deserve our thanks.”
The Democrats have also elevated the killing of Osama bin Laden to an actual difference between the two candidates.
Joe Biden said: “When [Romney] was asked about bin Laden in 2007, he said, and I quote, ‘It’s not worth moving heaven and earth, and spending billions of dollars, just trying to catch one person.’ He was wrong.”
Biden said that “Barack understood that the search for bin Laden was about a lot more than taking a monstrous leader off the battlefield.” It was about sending a message “to terrorists around the world — if you attack innocent Americans, we will follow you to the ends of the earth!”
Love and toughness, those were the two themes the Democrats ended their convention with.
“This man has courage in his soul, compassion in his heart and steel in his spine,” Biden said of Obama.
And when it came time for Obama to speak, he made clear that toughness meant facing up to a tough road ahead. He even dared a restatement of John F. Kennedy’s famous “ask not” line.
“America is not about what can be done for us, but what can be done by us,” Obama said.
“I won’t pretend the path I’m offering is quick or easy,” he continued. “I never have…. And the truth is, it will take more than a few years for us to solve challenges that have built up over decades.”
Obama, like the other speakers, portrayed the Republicans as doomsayers who were selling short the strength and resolve of the American people.
“Our problems can be solved,” Obama said. “Our challenges can be met. The path we offer may be harder, but it leads to a better place.”
It leads, he hopes, to four more years in the White House.
Roger Simon is POLITICO’s chief political columnist
Get back on your meds, fool.
How does the Moron in Chief get a bump when nobody watched the stupid convention.
Wrong. Romney won by being Politico's choice. DUring the primaries Politico spent thousands of man hours trashing the rest of the field and barely scratched Romney.
I said I would not vote for that idiot Romney unless pigs where flying. I don’t know why but every time I point one out to others they don’t look quick enough to catch a glimpse?
Over there it may not be possible to get a real sense of the quiet desperation, anger and resolve of most Americans to replace Obama. It’s real, measurable and Romney is going to win handily.
It’s a life or death mission. Thy Will Not Mine be Done
Sadly Simon is right. It looks like Romney is in trouble. Dispite what we all thought was a disaterous convention, todays tracking polls (Rasmussen and Gallup) show a huge bounce for 0bama.
I think I know why. This is not 1980. People aren’t worried about the issues. It’s image. People want a “cool” President. To people, Clinton and 0bama are “cool”. Clinton the studly President who got laid in the oval office. 0bama, the hip, fist bumping, hip hop President. Romney, on the other hand, is just to white for people. It’s sad. So many whites are ashamed of being white. Look how many try to act ethnic these days.
This is what it’s coming down to and we will pay the price as 0bama is handily re-elected by the droves of ethnic voters and white voters who wish they were ethnic. I really see no way for Romney to overcome this.
Maybe it’s fear talking, but this is how it seems out there. I pray I am wrong.
Bounces are normal, it has only been a few days for crying out loud. A poll right after the DNC convetion and people are giving up? LOL That’s stupid.
The economic realitys are impossible for Obama to escape.
Yes, it’s still the economy stupid. It always has been.
Analysis of election factors points to Romney win, University of Colorado study says
“For the last eight presidential elections, this model has correctly predicted the winner,” said Berry. “The economy has seen some improvement since President Obama took office. What remains to be seen is whether voters will consider the economy in relative or absolute terms. If it’s the former, the president may receive credit for the economy’s trajectory and win a second term. In the latter case, Romney should pick up a number of states Obama won in 2008.”
I don’t see Obama’s bounce as “huge”, it’s average. Romney also received an average bounce. The reality is that this is going to be a very, very close election. Probably closer than 2000.
I really listened to Romney and Ryan .... and now I will be voting FOR them.
I feel the exact same way. One other thing struck me about Romney and that's his obvious love for America. After four years of hearing veiled (and not so veiled) talk of American imperialism, racism, non-exceptionalism and (insert favorite ism here), it's downright refreshing to hear a candidate proclaim his love for this country.
I was interviewed by the Gallop Poll in 1976 (live, in-person, hour-long interview). In 1976, I was 24 and I was already pissed off at the RINOs and wanted to send them a message knowing that I was speaking for maybe millions of people.
So I lied. I said I was voting for Jimmy Carter even though I had no intention of voting for Jimmy Carter. It didn't work - Jerry Ford got even more wishy-washy after that and he lost.
Guess this kool-aid drinker didn't hear about the stadium being canceled due to storms - that were NOT forecast and never occurred... Did this love sick journalist miss that?
There were people who were enthused - they were the extreme party faithful AND members of the press.. neither group represent the people.
No need to get nasty and try to humiliate the poster. But, now that you’ve started it, are you a public school teacher?
I try to catch R/R’s campaign stops on C-Span. Sometimes live other times recorded. But there are no commercials or cut-outs and you get to really hear what they have to say.
I learn something new every time I watch .... and walk away wanting Romney/Ryan even more to be at America’s helm.
We had more people turn out for a chicken sandwich then they had turn out for Dear Leader.
It’s such a pile of BS, I skimmed it. Comparing the hatred we hold towards Obama and Clinton is ridiculous. Never in HISTORY has a Democrat been so despised.
Oh cute another 5 IQ post full of hysteric and name calling rather then a single rational fact
How about this, try making a rational case rather then scream hysteric bile at everyone else?
As Jeff Zeleny of The New York Times tweeted Thursday night: “A striking difference between conventions: Military service, patriotism are center stage at Democratic convention and nearly absent at GOP.”
Virtually overnight, the Democrats have become the party of strength and loyalty to country. This is a huge role reversal.
This part made me wonder: did some political generals okay the repeal of DADT with the understanding that the Democrat power brokers would clamp down on the hippie element? Was there a backroom deal?
More SPIN from SOCIALIST DEMOCRATS. More reasons they will lose in November. 1) Blew it on GOD. 2) Clint cleaned their clock exposing them as nothing but EMPTY CHAIRS. 3) CNBC host got spanked by RYAN when trying to defend and spin for obama on his bad economic policies. The look in the hosts eyes was all telling. He had the same answers as the democrats have. ZERO. It was a mis-informed democrat against a seasoned pro with the right facts on his side. No contest in November.
Right_in_Virginia
Lost a good job in 1997 with a company that Bain had bought and sold to Staples. Had a really bad taste in my mouth in refenerce to Mr. Romney. But like you I have been paying attention and doing a little research.
Now I’m voting R&R because I believe they can get us back on the correct path to My USA.
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