Focus group shows Obama defectors waiting for details from Romney

Mitt Romney's success on Election Day depends in part on bolstering the edge he already has among independent voters. To do so, two recent rounds of Republican-led focus groups found, Romney needs to offer more details of his economic agenda and present a relatable image during Wednesday's first presidential debate.

"The challenge for Gov. Romney is to relate to them personally and provide some inspiration that their quality of life will improve," GOP pollster Linda DiVall told reporters on a conference call Monday.

While President Obama has maintained a slight edge nationally and a clear lead in some swing states, Romney has a small advantage among independent voters in both national and state polls. With most voters already decided in their support, Romney must reach out to a relatively small segment of persuadable voters.

With that in mind, the conservative research group Resurgent Republic sponsored focus groups with key voting blocs who are still persuadable: College-educated suburban women and blue collar voters.

The most recent Quinnipiac University/CBS News/New York Times poll found that Mr. Obama has a huge lead among women voters in some key states -- a lead Romney must cut into if he wants to win. Resurgent Republic sponsored focus groups with college-educated women in Richmond, Virginia who voted for Mr. Obama in 2008 but currently don't support either candidate.

DiVall said that Mr. Obama's huge lead among women can be attributed in part to the Democrats' focus on women's issues like reproductive rights. When asked what they believed was at stake in this election, these voters named women's issues nearly as frequently as they named other issues like the economy.

However, DiVall said there's more to it. "The larger story is that .. Romney has not spelled out his economic plan," she said.

"There are plenty who say Obama campaigned on hope and change and has delivered on neither," DiVall continued. But because Romney has yet to make his economic agenda clear, those voters are "not willing to cross the line and embrace the alternative."

Blue collar men also feel they are unfamiliar with Romney's economic plans, according to two focus groups conducted in Cleveland, Ohio. The voters who participated did not have a college degree and most had household incomes of less than $100,000. They supported Mr. Obama in 2008 but are now unattached to a candidate.

Pollster Ed Goeas called this group "one of the most difficult subgroups of independents out there" to win over.

This group of voters, Goeas said, has a very negative outlook on the economy but does express optimism about the future. They're inclined to give Mr. Obama credit for trying to improve the economy but are hard-pressed to name any economic successes the president's achieved, other than the auto bailout.

Like suburban women, Goeas said these voters see the debate as "an opportunity to look at these candidates without a filter."

Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour told reporters on today's conference call that Romney should be able to win the hearts and minds of persuadable voters before Election Day.

"In the months of October and first week of November, Romney has time through the debates and other ways to make the sale," he said. "The burden is on him. It's his election to win, has been the whole time. He has to do it."

Barbour added, "I would be surprised if 100 percent of that is achieved in just the debates."

[walkthetalk]

No one is going to defect, from Obama's camp, because they won't have anyone to talk to, after they Die.

[bbglow]

Returning to the trickle-down policies of the Reagan/Bush administrations is "not" an option. If you wish my vote, explain "exactly" how it will be different under Romney. Going back is way more scary than your fear mongering political ads.

[maryderricotte62]

Defectors, I dought that more like implants. I live here in Florida, where voter suppression is live and well because of the republicans figuring out that there base is dead and dying. Oct 9. is the last day to register and early voting ballots are not being sent out until tomorrow. With republicans registering voters and destroying democratic voter registrations along with paying people to do this is an example of how the white house will be for sale to the highest bidder. Bad air, bad food, loss of housing and jobs and yes lower wages as they will fight to destroy unions and jobs that pay well. Every republican brags on who rich Romney is,and he's a buisiness man but can tell you what companies he owns and where is his job creation since you don't have to be president to create jobs. Michael Jordan has more money than Romney he dos'nt create jobs he makes deals. This is Romney the deal maker that buys up companies runs them into dept, then bankrupts them leaving the people with retirement to be picked up and paid for by the same government he claims that is too responsible for it's citizens.

[maryderricotte62]

Defectors, I dought that more like implants. I live here in Florida, where voter suppression is live and well because of the republicans figuring out that there base is dead and dying. Oct 9. is the last day to register and early voting ballots are not being sent out until tomorrow. With republicans registering voters and destroying democratic voter registrations along with paying people to do this is an example of how the white will be for sale to the highest bidder. bad air bad food, loss of housing and jobs and yes lower wages as they will fight to destroy unions and jobs that pay well. Every republican brags on who rich Romney is,and he's a buisines man but can tell you what companies he owns and where is his job creation since you don't have to be president to create jobs. Michael Jordan has more money than Romney he dos'nt create jobs he makes deals. This is Romney the deal maker that buys up companies runs them into dept then bankrupts them leaving the people with retirement to be picked and paid for by the same government he claims that is too responsible for it's citizens.

[MonkeyTree1]

OBAMA IS TOO STUPID TO BE PRESIDNT

Because the USA population is horribly ignorant 17th in the world. The populations is just to ignorant to know who to vote for. So, I must help guide them.

Obama is a wants more Government, more Regulations, More Spending and More Tax.

Romney wants Less Government, Less Regulations, Less Spending and Less Tax for Everyone.

VOTE FOR ROMNEY - FOR A BETTER LIFE

[randysanders]

To Moneytree1 and other wannabe republcans:

America may be 17th in the world in math and science, but the American electorate isn't too ignorant or willing to close the door on the past either. So, I too, must help guide them to a more informed choice.

Though Bush created the Homeland security department (more government and personnel)Obama has implemented fewer regulations than Bush. Though Bush had us invade Afghanistan and Iraq without properly funding those excursions, he could have used two or three special ops teams to get OBL like our DOD did under Obama. Obama wants to balance the budget, but he's not willing to throw all americans under the bus to do it.

Romney may want less governmental agencies, less regulations, less spending and less tax for everyone, but we want more specifics that take into account population growth, which regulations he's will to abolish, how his Massachusettes budget was under his watch, and why he thinks less takes equals more fees under his watch. As for less taxes for everyone approach, how does romney plan on controlling the Federal Government when he wasn't such a hot governor of Massachusettes. And what is Romney's positions on "States Rights" as compared to "Federal Laws and guidelines" on environmental issues.

[randysanders]

To Moneytree1 and other wannabe republcans:

America may be 17th in the world in math and science, but the American electorate isn't too ignorant or willing to close the door on the past either. So, I too, must help guide them to a more informed choice.

Though Bush created the Homeland security department (more government and personnel)Obama has implemented fewer regulations than Bush. Though Bush had us invade Afghanistan and Iraq without properly funding those excursions, he could have used two or three special ops teams to get OBL like our DOD did under Obama. Obama wants to balance the budget, but he's not willing to throw all americans under the bus to do it.

Romney may want less governmental agencies, less regulations, less spending and less tax for everyone, but we want more specifics that take into account population growth, which regulations he's will to abolish, how his Massachusettes budget was under his watch, and why he thinks less takes equals more fees under his watch. As for less taxes for everyone approach, how does romney plan on controlling the Federal Government when he wasn't such a hot governor of Massachusettes. And what is Romney's positions on "States Rights" as compared to "Federal Laws and guidelines" on environmental issues.

[MonkeyTree1]

OBAMA IS JUST TOO STUPID TO BE PRESIDNET

Obama spends 1m to create 1 - 10k part time job. O is too stupid to be president.

Barack Obama is at it again -- spending your tax dollars to bail out his failed economic plan. It's more of the same from an out-of-touch president with no plan to fix our economy and put Americans back to work.

This past week, the Federal Reserve announced it would print $40 billion every month to prop up this administration's jobless recovery -- that's money we can't afford for jobs we will never see.

What did President Obama's plan deliver? 43 months of record unemployment; 23 million Americans unemployed, underemployed, or no longer looking for work; $16 trillion debt; four trillion-dollar deficits;
and household incomes that have fallen more than $4,000.

The Romney-Ryan plan is different -- it will deliver 12 million jobs and grow the economy by 4 percent per year. Their plan is based on the fundamental principle that more government is the problem -- not the
solution.

Everyone knows there was an economic crisis when President Obama was elected. But make no mistake -- four more years of these disastrous economic policies will lead America down an even deeper jobless hole.

It's time for real change, so Americans can get back to work

Vote for Romney FOR JOBS

[bbglow]

This article sums up politics ... translation, "what spin must Romney place on his campaign in order to convince you to vote for him." How about forget the spin and just speak the truth ... what programs will be cut, what tax exclusions and shelters will be protected, who will profit from your election, what kind of employment can America expect, will tax breaks for off-shoring be continued, etc. I certainly will be listening closely. Any attempt at spin, issue avoidance and trust me rhetoric will determine my vote.

Regards,
Strongly Independent American Voter

[bbglow]

Somewhere, somehow, the republicans will need to explain how current exceptional corporate profits are not translating into American job creation and how additional corporate tax cuts are going to translate into anything other than more corporate profits. The company that eliminated my job is expanding operations in China and creating jobs in China. They now have three offices in China compared to one office when I was laid-off. These jobs are service jobs related to the construction industry and somehow, these Chinese based offices, besides contributing to work within China are also contributing to work being performed on American soil, however, the reverse is not apparently allowed. My only conclusion is that Corporate America has abandoned the American worker for less expensive labor abroad despite the fact that the American worker contributed heavily to their initial and existing wealth. Or, is it also political? Are they withholding job creation in America because they don't want a democratic administration to receive credit for putting an end to the too-big-to-fail initiated recession. Could the republicans kindly provide an answer? Is the media afraid to fully examine this destructive republican angle? P.S. The American worker understands it is nonsense to claim that fear to invest in America is a result of uncertainty while investment elsewhere contains only certainty. So that some can expect more, others must accept less. Would someone kindly inform the republicans that their mantra is nonsense?

[Slabtown]

"Mr. Obama has a huge lead among women voters in some key states"

Damn that women's suffrage, always getting in the way of the Republicans!