Eugene Robinson: Republicans aren’t closing the deal with voters

[bigtree]

Monday, November 14

Unemployment is at 9 percent, the housing market is moribund, “consumer confidence” is an oxymoron, and three-fourths of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track. So how is it that President Obama leads each of his likely Republican opponents in the polls? And why on earth is the gap widening rather than closing?

It’s simple: Voters are paying attention to what the GOP field is saying — not just the applause-line attacks on Obama but what the candidates propose to do about the economy. The more they talk, the more discouraged the electorate seems to become.

This should be the Republicans’ election to lose. They seem well on their way.

An NBC-Wall Street Journal poll last week showed Obama beating Mitt Romney — his most formidable opponent — 49 percent to 43 percent. That is not a huge advantage, but the trend is in Obama’s favor. Last month, the same poll had the president leading Romney by just two points; in August, Obama was only one point ahead.

Surveys show Obama basically wiping the floor with anyone else . . .


read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/republicans-arent-closing-the-deal-with-voters/2011/11/14/gIQAr5wKMN_print.html

[tabatha]

1. And as long as the Kochs and Grover Norquist are in the background

they will keep on saying the same stuff.

[jimlup]

2. But the Reptilian field is changing even as we speculate

They seem to be pulling out that old lizard Gingrich. He would I believe be easy for Obama to trounce but it would frighten me to have him on the national stage as the republican nominee - just one stolen election from the presidency.

[unblock]

3. "should be the republicans' election to lose"? they've been working on that since obama's election!

they've been uncooperative and petty jerks vastly more interested in trying to play politics than in even pretending to try to address america's needs at a time when america really needs government action.

i'd say they've been cruisin' for a bruisin' and fully deserved to lose BIGtime.

[meow2u3]

4. Republicans are only trying to close the POLLS to voters

Especially the voters who won't vote for them.