New Post-ABC poll shows Romney-Obama about even, no bounce from Paul Ryan. Let's see where it is after both conventions. #kipcvn #gop
Hurricane may swirl into a plus for Romney. Attention will shift from Akin, tax returns, Medicare and Ron Paul to complete disaster response. Just in time. #kipcvn
The gavel has sounded officially opening the 2012 Republican National Convention... Most of the action today is behind the scenes. #kipcvn
Romney will pivot to center quickly. It begins with convention speech by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. She'll dynamite dynosaurs in effort to win them over. She probably will. It will be one of the best moments of the convention. She has no ghost writers.She doesn't need them. Nor does she want them.
Even the GOP super PACs have stopped spending in Pa. We at Kiplinger have been saying all summer that Romney needs to win the three biggest remaining tossup states -- Virginia, Ohio and Florida. So those poll numbers for Florida have to be rattling more nerves in Tampa than the storm.
As GOP gets ready to officially make Romney the Republican nominee, it's interesting to look back and remember all the "not Romneys" who became front runners, if only briefly. Bachmann. Perry. Cain. Gingrich. Santorum. They'll be good soldiers for the GOP this fall, but don't be surprised to hear their harshest criticisms of Romney again -- in ads for Obama.
Arlen Specter, one of the more interesting characters to cross the political stage in recent decades, is gravely ill this morning. The news isn't likely to be noted in Tampa, since in GOP circles he's viewed as a traitor for becoming a Democrat late in his long career as a senator from Pennsylvania. But Specter sought the Republican nomination for president in 1996, and though he dropped out early, he'll always be a footnote for trying to become the first Jewish president.
In his acceptance speech Thursday night, and for the rest of the campaign for that matter, Romney needs to focus on the economy. With gas prices up and consumer confidence down, he should forget nearly everything else. As Democratic strategist James Carville might say, it's STILL the economy, stupid.
Serious juxtaposition: GOP touting tonight's headliners at the Tampa convention, Ann Romney and Chris Christie, while President Obama speaks live from the White House briefing room discussing preparations for Isaac's landfall along the Gulf Coast.
Expect the warm-and-fuzzy soft sell tonight from Mrs. Romney; look for Christie to jab at the Democrats. The bomb-lobbing New Jersey governor won't bite the head off a bat, especially if Isaac turns out to be a killer storm, but he and Ann Romney should be colorful, must-see TV. Their speeches will have to set a tone for this soggy-start love-in.
On the other side, Isaac may interrupt Obama's two-day campaign swing that begins today through Iowa, Colorado and Virginia. The storm is inescapable. It seems to be interwoven into the political narrative.
Fun little fact - If Romney wins the White House, he'd be the first president elected with sons in 24 years. Last one was George H.W. Bush in 1988.
History suggests Chris Christie's speech tonight will play a big role in how he's viewed as a potential GOP presidential candidate, either in 2016 if Romney loses in November or in 2020 if Romney beats Obama. The big question, unanswerable at present, is whether Christie will be too moderate for the Republican Party down the road.
You'll hear this again. The president, campaigning today in Ames, Iowa, pointed out differences with Romney over health care. While Romney vows to dismantle "Obamacare," Obama suggested calling Romney's planned action "Romney Doesn't Care."
Call me a cynic, but the roll call of the states should be waived when the outcome is a foregone conclusion. As it is this year. As it is almost every four years. No drama means no viewers. That's why the networks are down to an hour of coverage a night. Can we please cut to the chase?
There are two speeches that really matter this week in Tampa: Chris Christie's keynote and Mitt Romney's acceptance. The rest are window dressing.
