John Rossomando
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A new poll suggests what I have been seeing and saying for the past couple of months. This is, Obama’s policies have put the socially conservative, if not economically liberal, blue-collar Reagan Democratic vote up for grabs.
The Republican National Committee released a statement last night saying:
“Last week USA Today and Gallup released the results of their first "Swing State Poll" conducted in 12 of the most important battleground states in next year's election. An ominous finding for the President is only 37% of voters in swing states feel they're better off today than they were when he was elected three years ago. And at a time when economic concerns dominate the political landscape, swing-state voters said a Republican candidate would do a better job handling the issues of the federal budget deficit and debt (+16%) and the issue of unemployment (+7%). It's important to note all 12 of these swing states were won by the President in 2008.”
This means places like Michigan and Pennsylvania where Obama faces must wins in 2012 are ripe for the picking as long as the Republican nominee speaks to their needs, as I wrote in an earlier blog http://conhomeusa.typepad.com/therepublican/2011/10/blue-collar-voters-gop-2012.html.
So far, only Rick Santorum is speaking to that constituency in the debates by talking about the need to reinvigorate American manufacturing and the need to provide opportunities to those without college educations.
If the other GOP candidates persist in staying in their ivory towers and ignore this constituency, it is not any different than having them walk up to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to hand Barack Obama the keys to the White House for another four years.
The Republican Party needs a coherent industrial policy and explain to this crucial bloc of voters what it will do to improve their lives beyond just saying it will cut their taxes. Many of them don’t pay taxes at this point, so that will not be a selling point.
Republican National Committeeman Saul Anuzis tells ConservativeHome:
"If Mitt Romney is the nominee, there is no question Michigan will be in play making Obama's road to the White House very difficult. Michigan is the quintessential battle ground state to run against Obama and his failed policies."
It’s time for a little creativity.
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