The economic and political environment of the 2012 campaign has forced Barack Obama to wage two campaigns – one campaign against Mitt Romney and one campaign against a bad economy, driven by his own failed economic policies. In 2008, Barack Obama won with an aspirational campaign, promising hope for all, […] Read more »
Polls Have Middling Reviews for Ryan
… However, a few polls were released that were dedicated to Mr. Ryan specifically, and they offered mediocre numbers for the Republican ticket. … First, Mr. Ryan’s numbers are middling to poor by the standard of other recent vice-presidential selections. And second, the period immediately after a vice-presidential announcement has […] Read more »
Handicapping the Presidential Race: Watch the Samples and Weighting
It’s time for another caution about polls and what they mean. The most recent set of six CBS News/New York Times state polls conducted by Quinnipiac University and the latest Fox News national poll should remind us how important each survey’s sample is in understanding the ballot test. [cont.] Stuart […] Read more »
Medicare Rises as Prime Election Issue
With Mitt Romney’s selection of Representative Paul D. Ryan as his running mate, Florida quickly emerged on Monday as a critical test of the nationwide Republican gamble that concerns over the mounting federal debt can blunt potent Democratic attacks on conservative proposals to revamp Medicare. … Andrew Kohut, the director […] Read more »
Why Mitt Romney ignored his own pollster to pick Paul Ryan
… Ryan’s selection is revealing: the signal Romney is giving with this pick is that he wants to do more than just win the election; he has chosen to pitch a conservative vision for the US. Whether or not that plan will sell with the American public is to be determined. […] Read more »
Paul Ryan’s Medicare Plan May Scare Off Seniors—And Cost Romney the Presidency
If Mitt Romney’s selection of Paul Ryan for his running mate can be counted on to do anything, it’s bringing Ryan’s controversial proposal to reform Medicare to center-stage. … While this Medicare fight is quite predictable, the Romney campaign’s decision to court it is far more surprising. After all, Romney […] Read more »