Town-hall format could pose challenge for Romney

This article originally appeared on RealClearPolitics.

In his first debate against President Obama, Mitt Romney seemed to effortlessly pass his most critical test: appearing to undecided voters as presidential.

The Republican challenger was confident and relaxed as he stood behind his podium, narrowing in just 90 minutes a sizable "stature gap" between himself and the man who has been commander-in-chief for four years.

In Tuesday night's second head-to-head contest, one of his new tasks will be something Romney has faced throughout the six years he's essentially run for the nation's highest office: demonstrating that he feels the pain of regular voters and is able to connect with them on a human level.

By projecting a firm but affable demeanor against Obama in Denver, the GOP nominee went a long way toward countering the opposition's ad-driven portrayal of him as a hardhearted and self-interested capitalist. In a Pew poll released after the first debate, Romney led Obama among likely voters by a 49 percent to 45 percent margin -- a dramatic swing from a Pew survey three weeks earlier, in which Obama led his challenger by 51 percent to 43 percent.

But in the same poll conducted at the height of Romney's post-debate glow, the former Massachusetts governor still faced a 29-point deficit when respondents were asked which candidate best connects with ordinary Americans.

Republicans acknowledge the perils of this gulf and see Tuesday night's face-off at Hofstra University as a prime opportunity to close it significantly.

"If someone spent over $100 million in TV ads calling you a liar, a cheat, whose policies kill people, you would have a connectivity and empathy problem, too," said Republican strategist Jim Dyke. "Every time he gets the opportunity to make his case based on who he is and his life experiences directly to the American people, the pendulum swings further in his direction."

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Since the first debate, Romney has made impromptu campaign stops at fast-food restaurants and other small venues, which offer face-to-face encounters with average Americans -- a change of strategy after he spent months giving scripted stump speeches and attending fundraisers with wealthy donors.

Last Wednesday, Romney joined the Republican widely regarded as a maestro of the town-hall format -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie -- in taking questions from voters at a factory in Mount Vernon, Ohio.

In the past, impromptu moments of stilted conversation and awkward jokes have handicapped Romney -- someone never accused of being an innately charismatic candidate.

But over the years he appears to have improved his ability to connect with voters on a personal level. For one thing, Romney is no stranger to question-and-answer sessions, having handled thousands of inquiries from mostly partisan voters in his four political campaigns over almost two decades. In fact, aides to Obama say the town-hall format is a strength for their Republican opponent because of this experience.

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[mollyjb98]

Obama and the Affordable Care Act will SAVE $716 billion by stopping overpayments to insurance companies and care givers, reducing waste and fraud and improved technology. This is all in the report by the Congressional Budget Office which is non partisan!

Just recently several doctors, nurses and hospital administrators have been arrested and charged with committing over $400 million worth of Medicare fraud through overbilling and billing for services that were never rendered. Obama's administration is going to clamp down on fraud and this is just the most recent example.

[fiberglass3]

Do you wanna see Mitt Romney's integrity?

Go to Youtube. type in....Mitt Romney Debates himself.......and then...if you wanna see more...then watch Mitt Romney Debates himself...Part 2...

decide for yourselves....



Obama/Biden 2012 FORWARD!!!!

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

FORWARD Only! : )

[karlejohn]

"Debate II": The Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling second fight! No smiles, now this is serious!

[Ericwvb]

The Romney campaign just needs to make sure they have the latest firmware installed on Romney and he should be able to handle this debate format no problem.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

BAD_RANGER
I never dodge nothing slow

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You just did. Again.

[Chiefrosy]

Couple of questions I would like to see posed to the candidates.

1) Would you support legislation requiring all members of the house, senate and congress as well as the President himself, to purchase the same type of health care insurance that the rest of American's are being forced to buy?

2) Why did you both work so hard to exclude Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson from participating in the debates, and in any presidential debates?

[Lindag20]

Good questions. Congress and the president should be REQUIRED to purchase their own health care just like the rest of us instead of getting a free ride off the taxpayers.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

Bad_Ranger replies:
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Me and Jessie just split some KFC Ms Zann
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Hey Ranger! : )

I love KFC! Best storebought chicken out there! : )

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

Ranger........Dan's talking about auctioning people off over on the other story...sounds a lot like some charity auction....so if you go up for auction Ranger - I got first dibs on buying You! ; )

Gotta get outta here! My ride's here!
Have a good evening! : )
Zann

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

: )

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

Still curious, Ranger - why do you think my disbelief in your Jesus being a deity (although I'll bet he was a good guy) would absolve Mortar from following the Ten Commandments?

Just curious. You dodged the question earlier.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

You just dodged the question again, Ranger.

You can't handle the tough questions. I'll remember that one!

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

Jesus ainit a "deity"

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That is not what the Nicene Creed says, Ranger.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

Snap!

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

Snip!

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

Ouch! LOL!

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

legalbutnotjust replies:
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Never went out west, not further from here than the Detroit area. Detroit area was back when I was only four years old, but I still recall the journey. Niagra falls is quite a site to see. But I just never saw the ocean so blue as I have in Maine. Bath Harbor was a quaint little area. Very clean and well-kept. Portland and its people were the best.

I've been to Maryland and Virginia. Very peaceful out in northern Maryland/Gettyburg, PA area. I felt the surroundings had a calming effect. 'Heavenly,' as I recall. It might have just been the time of year. But that was all over 25 years ago, now.

I visited Maine twice back in the mid-late 90's. I was surprised how cold it gets up in northern Maine in mid-August. Gets down into the forties at night. Bhhrrr...
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In August?? Wow! I would love to win the lottery someday so I could walk the Appalachian Trail from Georgia all the way to Maine! : )