Is It The Economy, Stupid?

By: Scott Conroy
Topics: Mitt Romney

(CBS)

From CBS News' Scott Conroy:

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A dustup between the candidate and an AP reporterprovided the fireworks at a Mitt Romney press conference in Columbia, S.C., this morning, but there was also some major campaign news.

Romney announced that he would release within the next two days an economic stimulus plan, intended to give the American economy a short-term boost.

"I continue to believe that the issue that people are focusing on is the issue of jobs and our economy and how we make sure this economy stays strong," Romney said.

Growing concern about the local and national economy was an essential element to Romney's crucial victory in Tuesday's Michigan primary. Since his disappointing second-place finish in Iowa, Romney has retooled his campaign's message to focus more on his background as a successful businessman and turnaround artist and less on social issues.

"We're in a competition with other parts of the world that we've never competed with for good jobs, and we're going to see jobs continue to leave this country unless we have a president who understands how the economy works and is willing to fight for every single job," Romney said. "I know there is a defeatist, pessimist attitude that says, 'Hey, those jobs are gone—they're gone forever.' Well, I'm not going to sign up for that. I'm going to always be optimistic."

Romney cancelled his two scheduled events in South Carolina this morning due to a rare winter storm in the region. He's now shifting his campaign to Nevada, with the hope that he can pick up a win in Saturday's caucus there, while John McCain, Mike Huckabee and Fred Thompson battle it out for first place in South Carolina. Both states vote on the same day.

Although Romney is not putting as much emphasis on South Carolina as most of his GOP rivals, his campaign still thinks he can do well there. South Carolina State Director Terry Sullivan told reporters that while other candidates garner the majority of their Palmetto State support from specific niches within the Republican party, Romney's message reaches across "a swath of voters."

"We do well with Republicans," Sullivan said.

Sullivan said that the campaign made about 15,000 calls to South Carolina voters yesterday and that there is still a chance Romney could surge to a surprisingly strong finish in the state.

Sullivan also pointed to a pro-Huckabee group called "Common Sense" that he says has been making push polling calls to South Carolina voters. According to Sullivan, the callers ask voters who don't intend to cast ballots for Huckabee about what their most important issue is and then distribute false information in the form of a question.

For example, Sullivan said, if a likely Romney voter's chief concern is the status of marriage, the caller might ask, "Did you know that Governor Romney wants to legalize gay marriage?"

Sullivan said that he believes the push polling calls might backfire against the candidate they are intended to help, since savvy voters know better than to believe misleading messages.

Scott Conroy
Scott Conroy is a National Political Reporter for RealClearPolitics and a contributor for CBS News.
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by g02342000 January 18, 2008 2:28 PM EST: John Edwards is the only one that will fight poverty and bring health care and education to the poor & middle class of America. John Edwards would be the best President for all of America, anything less will be as bad as keeping Bush in office forever.

America deserves honest men of integrity that will fight for all Americans, and Edwards is a true patriot that can make America great. He has the substinance, determination, and will to fight greed, corruption and end the outsourcing of our jobs.

His economic, education, health and welfare policies are now being copied by all the canidates. Edwards spoke out months and even years before the others.

America needs to think about why the "Washington Greed, Corruption, Large Corporations and Media" are trying to make this a two candidate Democratic race?

Edwards is the only Democrat able to win the Presidency, as polls have showed that any Republican nominated will beat Clinton and/or Obama.

An Edwards presidency will create American jobs for Americans by ending the outsourcing of our jobs lost through NAFTA and CAFTA. It will end the greed and corruption of large corporations and Washington politicians.

End the $700 million per day wasted in Iraq and invest in America, America can prosper in a global economy without outsourcing our jobs

Vote for jobs for the workers of America, healthcare and education for the middle class by endorsing a true patriot of integrity and honesty for America, John Edwards; Reply to this comment


by almanojodo January 18, 2008 1:50 AM EST: Romney is an economic genius of the highest integrity. Many successful, intelligent people have donated to his campaign because they know he is the ONLY one with the expertise and experience to strengthen our economy. Romney knows how to create and hold jobs. Romney has managed failing businesses and caused them to become productive and profitable. OUR NATION DESPERATELY NEEDS ROMNEY! He is our best hope for bringing new vision and fresh voices to Washington. All his life Romney has walked the walk of conservative social values. He is a family man whose character is above reproach. Romney does not just talk about it, he does it! A vote for Romney is a vote for freedom and prosperity.; Reply to this comment


by michaellitz2 January 17, 2008 10:55 PM EST: It''s a dirty shame how Romney has spent millions of his own money to gain an unfair advantage over his non-wealthy rivals and how he often did so by airing THOUSANDS of misleading television ads against them. This is no way to run an election and I hope that the voters of South Carolina and Florida tell him so!!!!; Reply to this comment