Obama 2012 Campaign Strategy

In the Time article "The 15% Question: Why Mitt Romney's Tax Rate Matters," by Adam Sorenson, he shows why Romney's image may play an important role in Obama campaign strategy should the former Massachusetts governor win the nomination.

Obama's handlers are figuring out ways for the president to win enough electoral votes to take the election and part of the strategy will involve coming out with the right message.  Recently, Obama's speeches have leaned more toward a populist approach in agreement with many of the sentiments of the Occupy movement.

Mitt Romney would make an excellent opponent for framing the issues around the growing conflict between the "99 percent" and the "1 percent."

Talking to reporters, Romney said that his tax rate is close to 15% because most of his earnings come from investments (capital gains).  That means that  basically he pays a lower rate than working lower middle class Americans despite having a fortune estimated at $250 million.

If that was not enough, a recent ABC report indicates that Romney is shielding millions of dollars of his wealth from US taxes through offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands.

Expect to see these issues resurface should Romney win the nomination.  Also, expect to see the video of Romney claiming in Iowa that corporations are people played repeatedly by Obama supporters if not the campaign itself, if an Obama-Romney match-up occurs.

An Obama campaign strategy centered around a populist message will appeal to many voters still hurting from a slowly-recovering economy against the backdrop of a Republican Party that seems not to care much about creating jobs for Americans.


Romney critic on Bain Capital resurfaces

Avoiding the "Toughness" Lure

We've seen it happen before. It's a common Republican tactic. Focus on issue around security, war, terrorism and the like and lure the ever-willing Democrat into your territory.

Lately though the model hasn't worked that well. At least not in the more regional races. Republican incumbents have been defeated recently in strongholds were Democrats could not have imagined winning just several years ago.

However, it is still a question as whether this strategy will or will not work on a national level. After all, the president is commander in chief. Maybe it's just the fact that the Democrats have a tendency of letting themselves be lured into these traps that is perceived as a weakness.

John McCain is noticeably stepping up talk about his Vietnam war experiences and I expect that he and the RNC will keep "toughness" and "tough guy" issues as the theme of the election, trying to keep the economy and other matters off the table.

What are the predictable responses to the Republican moves? Select a tough 'good ol' boy' VP running mate, appear often in public with military flag officers, hold more security forums; basically do everything to help the Republicans turn the election into what will simply be a referendum on who is the more conservative candidate. Guess who would win that kind of race!




Barack in Reno