A presidential campaign is like a Christmas tree. It is decorated and enhanced through the months leading up to the election, but the tree is a constant. Obama's focus is the middle class.
The Romney campaign has been more like a series of small bushes, a new one for each news cycle. But the one constant is his across the board tax cut plan. It is a pale white artificial tree, at a time when the public clamors for natural. No matter how you dress it up, it looks fake.
Rich candidates win when their gifts are going to nascar fans, not nascar owners. Obama has two weaknesses, an anemic economy and robust debt growth. Tax cuts are no longer credible to cure the former, and worsen the latter. Romney's message should have been focused on the debt crisis. The issue plays to the base and independents. He could argue that 24 million jobs were created during the Clinton presidency because of a balanced budget. Economists probably would disagree, but it would have been a coherent campaign.
Instead of a glimmering Christmas tree, the Romney campaign is a turkey. Obama is giving thanks.
Showing posts with label Romney campaign. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Romney campaign. Show all posts
Monday, October 1, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
When Worlds Collide
Obama won the war of the words. The Romney podium placards are etch a sketch moments. The current "Romney Plan for the Middle Class" is reactive, he is trying to invade Obama world, not knowing that alien invaders always lose. For a creature of the 50s, his memory of post sputnik sci fi is limited. Perhaps that is why he thinks Russia is our number one enemy.
Campaign messaging is three spheres. The first is the real world, loosely represented by main stream media, which amplifies or mutes paid advertising. The daisy ad used against Barry Goldwater only played once, but the media echo chamber of Goldwater as an extremist, parlayed it into a devastating and decisive attack. Conversely, the Romney medicare attack has died out.
The second globe is the strategic plan. This is a single theme, although it may have many parts. The campaign must present a consistent narrative and plan that carries through from the beginning of the campaign until election day. So far Obama has done this, Romney has been a serial message changer.
Finally, the small moon circling the real world is the tactical campaign. It orbits every 24 hour news cycle, seeking more light for its campaign and more darkness for the opposition. This is the part of the campaign that gravitates towards gaffes, or perceived gaffes. It works when it moves in tandem with the strategic plan. "You Built it" worked for Romney because it fit the campaign story of a business man who understands how the economy works running against a failed president. Similarly, Romney's 47% video is consistent with Obama's portrayal of Mitt as an out of touch plutocrat, who does not understand the problems of the middle class.
But flailing attempts to win news cycles can knock a campaign out of orbit, if inconsistent with the strategic vision. This was the case with Romney's Libya remarks, and so many recent attacks. Soon we will know if Mitt can pullout of this death spiral.
Campaign messaging is three spheres. The first is the real world, loosely represented by main stream media, which amplifies or mutes paid advertising. The daisy ad used against Barry Goldwater only played once, but the media echo chamber of Goldwater as an extremist, parlayed it into a devastating and decisive attack. Conversely, the Romney medicare attack has died out.
The second globe is the strategic plan. This is a single theme, although it may have many parts. The campaign must present a consistent narrative and plan that carries through from the beginning of the campaign until election day. So far Obama has done this, Romney has been a serial message changer.
Finally, the small moon circling the real world is the tactical campaign. It orbits every 24 hour news cycle, seeking more light for its campaign and more darkness for the opposition. This is the part of the campaign that gravitates towards gaffes, or perceived gaffes. It works when it moves in tandem with the strategic plan. "You Built it" worked for Romney because it fit the campaign story of a business man who understands how the economy works running against a failed president. Similarly, Romney's 47% video is consistent with Obama's portrayal of Mitt as an out of touch plutocrat, who does not understand the problems of the middle class.
But flailing attempts to win news cycles can knock a campaign out of orbit, if inconsistent with the strategic vision. This was the case with Romney's Libya remarks, and so many recent attacks. Soon we will know if Mitt can pullout of this death spiral.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Romney: Cold and Fuzzy
Romney's focus group flexibility on issues is balanced by his consistency in campaign tactics. He eschews the normal pattern of starting with positive biographical ads. He pounds the opponent with negative ads. But strikingly his attacks make hypocrisy an art form.
In his gubernatorial race he attacked Shannon O'Brien, who released ten years of tax returns, for not releasing her husband's returns. These attack ads fuzzed up the issue of Romney not releasing returns. He attacked Kennedy on the same grounds when he ran for Senate. But being unable to use the issue this time, he claims release of tax returns are of no consequence.
Romney attacked Obama on Medicare. Yet his running mate's budget has the same 716 billion in cuts in future Medicare costs. His claim of taking steps ts save Medicare is false. His plan shortens the life of the trust by 8 years.
His tax plan is no different. For months Obama has been attacked for lack of leadership for not presenting a detailed plan to Congress, but only guidlines. But the Romney/Ryan explanation for not detailing the deductions necessary to fund his tax plan, is that the matter is best left to open debate in Congress
Duplicity is not a singular sin. It is multiplied by the disdain for the electorate that it represents.
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