Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Mitt Romney Needs to have a Heart to Heart with Voters

The latest CBS Republican nomination poll shows us that Undecided is the frontrunner.

Undecided/Don’t know 18 (22)
Mitt Romney 17 (16)
Herman Cain 17 (5)
Rick Perry 12 (23)
Newt Gingrich 8 (7)
Ron Paul 7 (5)
Michele Bachmann 4 (7)
Rick Santorum 3 (1)
Jon Huntsman 2 (1)

In the last couple of debates we saw Rick Perry stumble badly. His debating skills have left much to be desired. But with Perry's numbers falling, we do not see those voters moving into the Mitt Romney column. One reason for that is many wonder Who is the real Mitt Romney? Is he the candidate of 2011, 2008, 2002 or 1994? If Republicans take a chance on Romney, will he change into a new candidate for the general election in November of 2012? And once in office, how will Mitt Romney actually govern?

As someone who is still looking for a candidate I can get behind, I worry about the answers to those questions. I believe that is why we see Undecided/Don't Know as the front runner.

Jon Stewart wonders "Who is the Real Mitt Romney?"


Yesterday another video was launched showing why voters are hesitant about Mitt Romney:



It seems to me that Mitt Romney's next web ad needs to be about how we can trust him. A real heart to heart could move those undecideds towards Romney.

22 comments:

BOSMAN said...

TC,

"Yesterday another video was launched showing why voters are hesitant about Mitt Romney"

A "Think Progress Video" ARE YOU KIDDING?

showing WHAT VOTERS hesitant?

YOU!!!

Got any videos produced by Pravda?

Why don't you start off by reading his Book, then his Jobs plan, then listen to his Town Hall meetings.

For someone who is looking for a candidate, I have yet to see you post one pro or even neutral piece on Romney.

Now you're from Texas, You've seen our collection on Perry in the Perry Chronicles, ARE THEY LIES?...DISTORTIONS of his record? Why not enlighten us on Perry, rather than What "YOU" think is wrong with Romney?

What's right and/or wrong with the other candidates?

Anonymous said...

Romney 2012!!!

Terrye said...

Oh please..you dug that up from how far back? I could not even watch all of it. It was silly.

There was a part of that where Romney mentioned that he was an Independent when Reagan was President..well hell's bells Perry was a Democrat when Reagan was President. In fact he campaigned for Al Gore.

People really do change positions on issues during their life time. I know I have on some things. To go dig up stuff from decades ago and then smack him around like that is just stupid.

Anonymous said...

Huck will endorse romney, stop the nonsense already and get on the romney train.

Anonymous said...

TC go ahead and vote for obama.

Revolution 2012 said...

Hey TC,

Romney did close loopholes in MA for large coorporations. Why should they be allowed to weasel there way out of paying their propper amount under the tax code because of some loophole?

Seems someonelse had that idea first. Do you really think he was wrong doing that?

Terrye said...

Yeah, vote for Obama...after all at least we know who he is..right?

Sheesh..Jon Stewart.

Terrye said...

Actually, most people support the idea of lowering rates and closing loopholes.

TexasConservative said...

To the Romney supporters-

You miss the point of my post.

Romney has had this ceiling of 25% for most of the year. The CBS poll shows that 83% of those polled, voted for someone else besides Romney.

My suggestion, is that Romney take a good look at the videos being made against him. Then turn around and address the Trust concern that people have about his convictions on these issues.

Romney has not made the sale yet.

Will he end up being the nominee? Probably.

But in order to get the support of the voters who knock on doors, make phone calls, email their friends, put out lawn signs, attend rallies, he needs to let them know that he will not let them down. That what he is saying today is what he will do tomorrow.

I think a heartfelt ad designed for skeptical voters like myself is just what is needed.

Or in the next debate, if there is an opportunity at the beginning/end of debate, he needs to make a heartfelt statement.

Doug NYC GOP said...

Desperate posting.

How did you like the Huckabee interview?

Nice to see both together, amicable and getting along.

Huckabee is endorsing mitt.

Why can't you?

Terrye said...

I know he has a ceiling. I get that, but he is still ahead of everyone else.

And it would help if people did not watch videos from Think Progress and then expect a Republican candidate to respond to it.

Anonymous said...

I know this will seem a little trite, but Vanderbilt University found that the reason the "flip-flop" meme stuck more readily to Romney than any other candidate is because he is a Mormon. He hasn't necessarily changed his positions more than other candidates; he is not seen as trustworthy because many people do not trust Mormons, who are seen as different and "weird."

Please do not think that this means all voters are bigots, it is certainly not true. In fact, most of these voters are not bigots, it is just far more difficult for them to vote for someone they perceive as being so different from themselves. I believe that if Romney runs an ad to try to win over people like you, TC, he will simply be accused of being fake or phony or something else.

Bosman, do you have the ad that was made of Romney helping his partner find his daughter after she was missing in NYC? It would be good for people to see that again.

AZ

TexasConservative said...

Doug,

I just said what I was concerned about.

I just said what I thought Romney could do to fix that.

Then you turn around and ask me why I am not endorsing him.

Listening to talk radio during the day-this is the meme on Romney-that due to his past flip flops people are not sure they can trust him.

So I think a really good web ad or a nice statement at the beginning/end of the debate would go a long way in calming the fears of undecided voters-myself included.

If Romney wants the foot soldiers and not just voters who turn up on election day, he needs to reassure.

Anonymous said...

The 'trust' issue was hogwash and always will be. Time for folks to take a look at Romney with fresh eyes, and forget the false meme from the past. Reading the book, and listening to some interviews will also help, TC.

-Martha

Anonymous said...

i posted a comment on that youtube video and was banned hahaha

BOSMAN said...

AZ,

AZ,

Here.is the ad that was made about Romney rescuing the daughter of his friend.

HI Martha, Welcome back!
Hope everything is well with you and your family?

Slick-Willy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Slick-Willy said...

I actually didn't mind the post--and I'm a Romney supporter.

I definitely agree that Romney has a perception problem with people on both sides of the aisle. However, I'm not sure how/if the highly skeptical can be pacified.

On the one hand, if Mitt fails to explain his changes and have a heart to heart, he risks having people hold their support due to distrust. On the other hand, if he does have a heart to heart, he brings additional attention and focus to the changes in his background and away from his goal--economy + defeat Obama.

If I were Romney I'd press on as he has. Focus on jobs, Obama and his current policies. And when people ask these questions, explain why positions have changed and move on.

Anonymous said...

Silly,

Sounds like good advise

hamaca said...

Texas Conservative,

It'd be awesome to have you and others like on board supporting Romney. I think Romney's been trying to build trust and familiarity in each of the many townhalls he does, in the debates, in op-eds, in his book, his detailed plans, writing his pro-life pledge, and much more.

The exact type of communication that would work for you in the end will be derided by many others who will continue to lazily pick whatever label is convenient--he was plastic, how can you know he's telling the truth, I still have no idea what he believes, etc.

I'm not so sure that Romney is the real problem. Everyone, including him, has imperfections--this will always be the case. I think the people who continue to they can't trust him could do well to look inside and see if they are harboring any irrational feelings that cloud their judgement. Expecting Romney to somehow fix that is asking too much of any candidate.

You were surely frustrated at the attacks on Huckabee during 2008. You may have found them to be unfair. If people would simply make a genuine effort to get to know and understand the real Mike Huckabee, they wouldn't act and say what they do. The. same. is. true. of. Mitt.

You are needed. Hope you can get past this stumbling block to continue on the road Mike inspired you to undertake.

Anonymous said...

I know that there are clips there that are taken out of context.....it doesn't complete his thought or really explain his stand. But those looking to discredit aren't looking for truth.

His book explains many of the issues mentioned. He did not run as a social cons in the liberal state of MA. He did not run on "I'm going to push for overturn of Roe v Wade." However, in the case of stem cell research, he came down on the side of life. He was against abortions being paid w/taxpayer $$ in the healthcare bill but overriden by the liberals.

The 50% paid by the fed gov't is the MEDICARE $$ that is sent to each state. (% amounts vary state by state)

I think TC is brave to have this conversation and you seem to be doing so in an honest effort. I agree that there are some issues that concern some. While Mitt HAS addressed many/all of those issues......they obviously don't get to all of the people that need to hear them.

How about a youtube with a side by side REST of the story of Mitt's side.

And, YES, we do/can change our minds and positions. We grow and understand things differently w/experiences that we have. Period.

Anonymous said...

What a misleading video to post. The second of the two videos you posted is a smattering of many clips - most of which have been cut off and strategically clipped so you don't get the whole picture. A perfect example is the one where he s talking about time tables. If you were to see the entire clip you would find out that he believes that time lines should never ever be made public but that they should be internal goals for the military and administration to work towards. What a disgusting and misleading video to post.