Pollster Peter Hart: Swing Voters see Obama as aloof

[WI_DEM]

(and I see swing voters as idiots):

First Read interviews pollster Peter Hart on a focus group of swing voters he conducted in Colorado:

"Our focus groups show that voters see a lot of glamour and glitz from the Obama administration; they're wondering where the vision, where the valor is going to be... [Obama] is missing the mark on the middle class. He needs to get down there. It is not just rallies; he needs to be out there feeling what they are feeling, a lot of pain, a lot of hurt, a lot of uncertainty."

More: "The public need a sense of a vision, they need a sense of hope, they need to be able to see that it's not just the old Obama giving them the charisma and the cool. They need to see substance over style."

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/06/14/swing_voters_see_obama_as_aloof.html

[JoePhilly]

1. And Mitt Romney is a man of the people!!!! Please.

[madashelltoo]

2. Yes, sweating and lying Rmoney is a man of the people!!

Believe that and I've got a nice townhouse in the middle of the Delaware you might be interested in. Yeah, it's dry.

[Jamaal510]

16. So I'm not the only person who noticed that Mitt Rob-me sweats a lot.

[Cali_Democrat]

18. Sweaters need to take more showers and change their sheets more often

I should know...I'm a sweater...

Sometimes I take two showers a day!

[elleng]

3. What am I missing? What are THEY missing?

Just don't get it.

[JoePhilly]

6. Its a Rove tactic ... take the opponents strength and claim it is a waekness.

I've noticed on a number of MSNBC shows where they all "agree" that neither Obama or Mitt understand the "average person".

The goal is to help Mitt look less mechanical. And keep the race close.

[Blue_Tires]

7. Of course the dirty secret is none of the big-time media clowns do, either...

[dennis4868]

14. I wonder if these TV pundits...

were ever relying on food stamps to eat their meals like Obama. I think Obama understands the avg person better than anyone.

[montanacowboy]

4. OH FFS

Mitt - the blue collar man - Jezus H. Christ - these goddamn pollsters, screw them

[elleng]

5. Peter Hart is usually pretty good,

which is why I'm more confused than usual by this.

[bigdarryl]

8. Stupid ass poll if you ask me

And what was GW Bush JESUS!!!

[Proud Liberal Dem]

9. How do they want him to "feel the pain"?

He's pushing policies that could help a lot of people but the Republicans are blocking him at every turn.

[pscot]

12. And yet he hasn't vetoed a single bill in 3 1/2 years

Everything seems to be negotiable. Everything is on the table. There's never a bright line that can't be crossed. Where's his passion. What's he willing to fight for. I think average Americans have trouble figuring out who he is and what he stands for. Rove is more than happy to fill in the blanks, and there will be no help for the President from the media. We're heading into a street brawl and Obama better pick up a 2x4 and start swinging if he plans to b re-elected.

[Happydayz]

23. This is nothing new with swing voters

They make the same statements every presidential election cycle. I'm undecided or this candidate doesn't get it, he seems aloof etc. Everyone else has made up their minds, but these creatures want attention and play the "I don't know who I'm voting for wishy washy game". Who are these average Americans you speak of, because imo most average Americans have made up their minds. If they had such a problem with with he stands for, I'm sure his approvals would be in the 20s or 30s and he wouldn't be the POTUS. That whole message of the average American doesn't know who he is or what he stands for, seems awfully similar to rethug Carl Rove type talking points. President Obama, isn't some new politician on the scene, he's the president, majority of voters have already figured out who he is and what he stands for when they elected him in 2008.

[Arkana]

10. We heard this same crap in 2008. It wasn't true then, it's not true now.

[Drunken Irishman]

11. I hate these articles...

They're really pointless. A focus group doesn't mean squat. Frank Luntz loves to use focus groups and they mean absolutely jack shit. So, I'm not going to take anything about this article seriously.

[pscot]

13. That's the spirit

And you'll wake up on Novemner 4th wondering what hit you.

[Cali_Democrat]

19. There's not much more Obama can do IMO

He's taking a populist message to the people. They just aren't paying attention.

This focus group is clueless.

[hrmjustin]

15. Why do we allow swing voters to vote.

Obama needs to get his act together and enough of mister nice guy.

[Jamaal510]

17. Swing voters should be tested to see how much they know about politics

before they vote.

[Happydayz]

20. Okay

The bottom line is no one is paying attention this far out in the game. When I watch the 5pm local news, they barely even mention a peep about politics. Unless, you are watching corp news media, CNN MSNBC etc you won't hear anything about the 2012 election. The public will start paying attention near August on forward. I just believe that Obama and Axelrod know what the hell their doing, they know how to win elections. We just have to be patient, no one will remember what you said or what happened in June in the fall. These pollsters want to see a horse race anyhow, that doesn't mean we should become complacent, but we can take these articles with a grain of salt.

[FrenchieCat]

21. swing voters are aloof.....

seriously....perhaps that's why they blow with the wind!

[CTyankee]

22. As Chris Hayes has so eloquently ;pointed out, most "swing" voters really aren't.

They just don't like to call themselves what they really are. And I think they are mostly republicans. Just my theory...