Nothing Peachy About Romney’s Debate Reviews, Poll Numbers
May 21, 2007
Smooth talking Mitt Romney may be in the Peach State today, but things are less than peachy for the Republican’s presidential candidate’s campaign. Despite spending millions of dollars on a national advertising campaign, Romney is still stuck in the single digits in almost every national poll. Worse still, the Romney campaign is reeling after a barrage of reviews panning his performance in this week’s Republican presidential debate. After outside critics said Romney’s slickness “wears thin pretty quickly” and noted that tough questions on security issues “seemed to throw him off,” one of Romney’s own campaign advisors admitted that their candidate “didn’t do as well as he wanted to.”
Romney’s troubles are evidence of a growing dissatisfaction among Republicans with all of their candidates. According to the March 2007 NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, more than one in four Republicans say they are “dissatisfied” with their choices for the Republican presidential nomination. [NBC News/ Wall Street Journal poll, March 2007]
“Mitt Romney’s attempts to smooth talk Republican primary voters into ignoring his record is wearing thin for both the pundits and the voters,” said Democratic National Committee spokesman Damien LaVera. “All the poor reviews and dismal poll numbers are just the latest evidence that Romney’s decision to pander to the Republican base by clinging to President Bush’s coattails instead of outlining clear plans for America’s future is failing.”
ROMNEY CAMPAIGN PLAGUED BY POOR REVIEWS...
Romney’s Own Advisors Say Romney Underperformed. “Romney didn't do as well as he wanted to do -- one of his advisers admitted as much -- but his campaign seems happy that he managed to make three policy points.” [The Hotline On Call, 5/15/07]
National Review: Campaign Mocked for Press Release Declaring Victory. "I might have avoided sending out ‘Governor Mitt Romney Wins Second Debate Advocating A Stronger America’ as they just did. He had some moments, but he didn't win and saying so while par for the course feeds into the (unfair, IMHO) ‘he'll say anything’ meme." [Lopez, National Review Online, 5/15/07]
Sullivan: Romney’s Pandering Showed Through. “Romney aims to please. He knew where he was - South Carolina. You can largely determine his beliefs in advance by judging the audience he is attempting to win over.” [Andrew Sullivan, 5/15/07]
Romney’s Slickness Wears Thin. “As for Mr. Romney ... he simply didn't have a big moment. His slickness wears thin pretty quickly I think, especially when he constantly has to defend himself against flip-flopping charges — and his defenses are pretty lame. He also weirdly proclaimed: ‘We ought to double Guantanamo.’ What does this mean? This guy just says whatever he thinks people want to hear. I gets hard to even listen to.” [Ryan Sager, www.latestpolitics.com, 5/15/07]
Tough Questions on Security “Seemed to Throw Him Off.” “Romney, after a great first debate, turned in a very mediocre performance. Part of his problem were the surprisingly tough questions he received from his inquisitors which seemed to throw him off. But there was something about him that just seemed less present on stage tonight.” [MSNBC, First Read, 5/16/07]
Romney’s Latest Anti-Massachusetts Joke “Fell Flat.” “Maybe it was because he got a good deal of tough questions (five by my count) or perhaps because the focus -- national security -- was more in the McCain/Rudy wheelhouse, but Romney did not have a good a night as he did at the first debate. He got to his Washington outsider/MBA message nicely when he was asked about taxes, but was not as sure-footed when Wallace asked about his conservative credentials. And the tug on the blue suit coat to underscore just what a blue state Massachusetts is fell flat.” [Jonathan Martin, Politico.com, 5/15/07]
Galen: Romney Too Polished. “I thought that Mitt Romney needed to knock a little polish off his performance: His answers continue to make him sound like Hermione Granger in Potions class at Hogwarts. For example, when Wendell Goler asked Romney about the dangers of illegal abortions he said, ‘I can't imagine my heart not being rent’ by the circumstance described. I can't imagine anyone being moved by that answer.” [Rich Galen, CNSNews.com Commentary, 5/16/07]
...AND EVEN WORSE POLL NUMBERS
Polling Report: Romney Ranked Fifth in South Carolina Despite Running Ads and Robo-Calls with Popular Senator Jim DeMint. Mitt Romney ranked 5th place in a recent South Carolina poll. Romney has been running ads, placing robo-calls with the popular Senator Jim DeMint and doing other on-the-ground work to build support. 69% of likely South Carolina primary voters are familiar with Romney; 30% of likely voters have never heard of Fred Thompson, yet he placed third in the same poll. [Latest Politics Blog, New York Sun, 5/14/07]
American Research Group Poll: Romney Ranked Fourth. In a recent poll on national presidential preferences, Mitt Romney placed fourth. Romney trailed Giuliani, McCain, and Gingrich, who has yet to enter the presidential race. Romney was preferred by 8% of respondents. [American Research Group, 5/14/07]
Gallup/USA Today Poll: Romney Ranked Fifth. In a recent Gallup/USA Today Poll, Romney ranked fifth behind unannounced candidates Newt Gingrich and Fred Thompson. Romney was preferred by 7% of respondents. [National Journal, 5/8/07]
