The latest Washington Post-ABC News poll found that the race has remained stable over the past month, with Romney currently at 47 percent and Obama at 46 percent with registered voters. In July, Obama and Romney were dead-even at 47 percent in the same poll. The bottom line from the Post:
The findings continue a months-long pattern, with neither the incumbent nor the challenger able to sustain clear momentum, despite airing hundreds of millions of dollars in television ads — most of them negative — and exchanging some of the harshest early rhetoric seen in a modern presidential campaign.
This is despite the massive spending on Obama’s side to paint Romney as everything from a felon to a tax-dodger to a killer. The fact that all that cash hasn’t moved the dial should be a big concern for the Obama campaign, particularly since Romney has more to gain from the conventions.
Romney has a chance to dispel the falsehood that he’s an “extremist” during his speech. Since voters are already very familiar with Obama, he doesn’t have the same opportunity to define himself.
That’s why Romney’s speech at the convention has to be focused on who he is and what he would do as president. Obama’s will necessarily have to focus on cutting down his competition and shifting blame for the slow economic recovery.
You note that the President hasn't gained an advantage against Romney: nThis is despite the massive spending on Obama’s side to paint Romney as everything from a felon to a tax-dodger to a killer. nand a few sentences later you write: nObama’s will necessarily have to focus on cutting down his competition and shifting blame for the slow economic recovery. nThis is Obama's greatest weakness. The myth who was elected four years ago and excited so much of the electorate, and transcended politics, could look down on the populace from on high and reassure us that he would heal our nation, if not the world. After four years of failed policies, he is no longer transcendent. nAnd as the President resorts to more and more negative campaigning the halo becomes tarnished. Negative campaigning strips away the veneer of being "above it all" that served the President so well in 08. nPresident Obama cannot win on his record. He also cannot win with negative campaigning. McCain got a really nice convention bump in the polls four years ago. It didn't take long before reality set in and Obama ran away with it. I believe the same thing will happen this year, but in the other direction. Negative campaigning is Obama's kryptonite; he will not survive it.
If a liberal Rag like the Washington Post says the race is 47 – 46, am I the only one that thinks Obama is going to get creamed? Also, they're not sampling likely voters.
What a difference a day makes. Yesterday was Eeyore day around here (thanks jocon307). Today Goodman and Tobin see the silver lining. I think commentators need to look for direction from the nonentities out here in the real world – the roller coaster analysis from the pros is getting depressing. nRomney is in good shape, the Republicans are in good shape, the Democrats got nothing. Take a deep breath and relax.
Baloney!! Four more years of Obama is in the bag! The people who are going to vote cannot relate to the wealthy Romney, who seems to put his foot in his mouth at every whistle stop! When it comes down to it…the wealthy are outnumbered considerably by the poor and "new" poor (the old Middle Class), who cannot see a path back from the deficit-destroying actions of the Bush years, a time when the deficit was increased by 2 warfronts and a tax cut for the wealthy…an inane combination that should never have been passed. Mark my words…
And then Obama poured what money was left down the drain. But, hey, it's OK, don't worry if we have money in our national checking account we still have a checkbook full of unused checks! Scribble! Scribble!
What do you mean, "down the drain"? Are you referring to the TARP? If so, you have no idea what you are talking about from an economist's standpoint…TARP was the only action that kept the economy from an even worse catastrophe. It saved the auto industry and even though I think the banks should have been penalized for their acts more, it prevented more banks from collapsing. Obama has also reduced the Federal workforce to its lowest point in decades, saving more billions and the ACA will save over a trillion dollars over the next 10 years! PLEASE…explain to me what you really mean!