Political Hotsheet
By

Stephanie Condon /

CBS News/ August 24, 2012, 9:53 AM

Romney's "re-introduction" focuses on his resume

Romney raising more money than Obama

(CBS News) As he prepares to formally accept the Republican presidential nomination, Mitt Romney is working to connect with voters who feel they don't know him well enough to vote for him. But rather than sharing family stories or childhood memories, the candidate is focusing on explaining his resume.

Voters this year, Romney said in an interview published Friday in the Wall Street Journal, are "looking for someone who can make things better in America. They're not looking for someone to run another version of 'This is Your Life.'"

Indeed, polls continue to show that no issue matters more this year than the economy. Still, likability could be a problem for Romney.

The most recent Quinnipiac University/CBS News/New York Times poll of three key battleground states showed that a majority of voters in Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida think that President Obama cares about their needs and problems. In all three states, Romney trailed Mr. Obama on that measurement by 13 to 18 points. More than half of voters in those states have favorable views of Mr. Obama while their views of Romney are more negative.

Romney is attempting to improve his image among voters with a series of more personal interviews with outlets like People Magazine and Parade Magazine. He refused, however, to appear in web videos his campaign produced to introduce him to voters, the Journal reports. Instead, his wife, Ann, starred in the videos. Romney told the Journal he doesn't want to use his campaign as "a way to personalize me like I'm a piece of meat."

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Instead, the GOP candidate is aiming to connect with voters in the general election by explaining how his business experience has prepared him for the presidency.

"My business experience confirmed my belief in empowering people," Romney wrote in an op-ed in Friday's Wall Street Journal. "My faith in people, not government, is at the foundation of my plan to strengthen America's middle class."

Romney's record as the founder of the private equity firm Bain Capital has been the subject of harsh attacks from the Obama campaign, which has sought to cast Romney as a heartless corporate raider. Romney uses his op-ed to explain his company's role in turning around struggling companies -- and to turn the attacks back on Mr. Obama's economic management.

"I'm not sure Bain Capital could have grown or turned around some of the companies we invested in had we faced today's anti-business environment," Romney wrote.

As president, Romney wrote, he would improve the economic climate for entrepreneurs and small businesses by reducing and simplifying taxes, repealing Mr. Obama's health care reforms and stemming regulations.

"A broad message emerges from my Bain Capital days: A good idea is not enough for a business to succeed," he wrote. "It requires a talented team, a good business plan and capital to execute it."

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
19 Comments Add a Comment
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hhandyman says:
Read the Murdoch press Wall street Journal and see what Romney wants you to know about him then Fact check it all on line and see what it is based on to know what is truth and what is shaded truth and then you have a basis to understand the man and his method of work.
Unless you do fact check both candidates for truth you should not vote for any opinion outside of the truth may be slanted pro or con from either extremest groups sources Liberal or Conservation.. If you only go with the group then its a group choice of a gang if you study it out on both sides then your conclusion is yours and how you should vote regardless which candidate pick the best man for the job. not the party or bias.
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Eco99 says:
Another interesting look at Mitts returns and some light on what the Haves and Have mores got going for them to hold onto their wealth.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/25/business/in-romneys-tax-return-clues-in-foreign-taxes.html?pagewanted=all
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TimeIsNowfor99 says:
A reintroduction means that they know they are losing. The problem is that Mitt is the wrong guy to face Obama. His health care policy as governor gives him no ground to stand on against obamacare. His offshore tax havens and role in outsourcing plays right into Obama strength. And the guy is really a twitt. He sticks his own foot in his mouth more than anyone at that level. Makes you think GOP felt Obama was not beatable and they did not want to waste a good candidate going up against him. You only get one chance to win this election. Too bad as Obama has made too many mistakes and voters like me would have went GOP this election if they had a real candidate. Obama is first democratic presidential candidate I have voted for and I really did not want to do it twice. But I am going to go against logic and vote for mitt because I don.t like Some of the policies of Obama. Mitt would just crush the middle class and our economy. His line of thought just does not work in a global economy driven by greed driven bankers in an unregulated market with taxpayer chips.
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RollotheNorman says:
Yep, it is that etch-a-sketch time of year. Don't be a rope-a-dope and vote for Willard "Geeko" Romney.
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RollotheNorman replies:
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"by USSAmerikan August 24, 2012 3:53 PM EDT
I agree."

I guess we can count on the kraut vote then!
RollotheNorman replies:
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"by USSAmerikan August 24, 2012 3:53 PM EDT
I agree."

Nice to know we have the neo-nazi vote on board, but we really don't need or want you!
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TimeToEvolve says:
The reinvention of Governor Etch A Sketch sure does not include information from the slimewad's tax returns, that's for sure.
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albertj829 says:
Another news site said that Romney was leading in those battle ground states. I don't believe anything anymore. All I know is that no one ever asks me who I am voting for.
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jimbom121 says:
Perhaps ROmney can start telling us what deductions he will take away from the middle class or what he will do for healthcare.
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TimeToEvolve says:
Mitt Robbed Me reminds me of this incompetent slimewad company I used to work for. They were always sending out stuff that advertised their "revised reputation" as if saying that actually made any difference.

It's the same with the current radical extremist Republicon haters of America. They keep trying to wipe the Etch and Sketch clean and hope no one remembers what they said last week. We aren't really that stupid are we?
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superdem1 says:
Someone who can make things better in America ? How is it better to tell a woman who has been raped that she must bear her rapist's baby ? That is outrageous, like being raped AGAIN. And how does it make things better in America to take unlimited secret money from unknown donors to get elected President ? Who does he owe what to for that ? It's corruption, pure and simple. And how does it make things better in America to hide your taxes from the American people ? It doesn't wash that you are trying to avoid attacks from the other side, if you are innocent, you can defend against attacks, you can explain yourself. You can't just say "trust me" - we know Romney knowingly lied when he said he was filing taxes as a resident of Massachusetts so he could run for Governor there, when he really was filing as a resident of Utah. This man cannot be trusted with ANYTHING. So far, the only thing people can say about him is he "saved the Olympics" - how ? Exactly how did he "save the Olympics ?" - what did he do ? No one knows, they only say that phrase over and over. Who cares if he saved the Olympics - we have a democratic country to run. The same people who praise him for "saving the Olympics" hate the United Nations. He wants to take us to war with Iran ! Who could possibly vote for this man ? You can't hate black people that much ! You have to be logical - he saved this country from going down the tubes ! Everyone with a 401(k) knows this is true ! The stock market went from 6,000 under Bush to 13,000 under President Obama - so what are the Republicans even talking about ? They are the ones not helping America !
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oldjones says:
Mr. Romney can tout his business and public executive accomplishments all day long; but it's just his word for it as to his "expertise"! His Bain Capital records are closed to scrutiny by Confidentiality Agreements.. His Governorship records, which where stored on Massachusetts State computers, were mysteriously "bought up" by him or his agents. Plus: His record for his time as the administrator of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic have strangely disappeared as well. Funny how there is so little collaborating data for his claims! Add to this his continued reluctance to release more than one year (two if you count 2011; which will "conveniently" be made available to the public after the election!); and we have a "severe" stealth candidate who is not IMO presidential material, and shouldn't be trusted by the electorate. Issues matter little if the candidate lacks honor, honesty and other favorable character traits; and he can't show, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he can be entrusted with power by the general public..
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