Republicans Must Do a Better Sales Job to Win the White House

No major overhaul of the conservative agenda is called for.  Despite Obama’s campaign of distortion, class-warfare and name calling, the incumbent won by only 3%. 

Government is too large and spending needs to be cut – not merely slowed.  Obamacare is bad for the health care system and individual liberty.  America’s economy needs more freedom, not more regulation.

Yes, the candidate running on those positions lost but not because of their content.

Consider some exit poll results:

          “Government is doing too much” 

                             Agree:  50%

                             Disagree:  43%

 

          “Obamacare should be repealed”

                             Yes:  49%

                             No:   44%

 

“Should taxes be raised to cut the deficit?”

                             Yes:  33%

                             No:  63%

 

So the election results were not the result of disfavored views. 

How about the electorate’s view of the economy?

          “Current US conditions are”

                             Good and getting better:  43%

                             Poor and getting worse:  55%

          “Most important facing country”

                             Economy:  59%

                             Deficit:  15%

                             Health care:  18%

 

Sounds like Romney should have won in a walk… until you take into account other exit poll findings.

          “Who would better handle the economy?”

                             Romney:  49%

                             Obama:  48%

          “Who would better handle the deficit?”

                             Romney:  49%

                             Obama:  47%

These voters were kidding, right?

Romney, a successful businessman, was considered no more competent than the incumbent who has presided over the most anemic recovery in decades? 

And President Obama, who added 6 trillion to the National debt, is equal to the task of debt reduction?  What’s going on here?

What else can there be but a failure to communicate?

Maybe it was Romney’s sometimes awkward style and statements.   Certainly Obama’s attacks on Bain Capital played a role.  Plainly, there was a desire on the part of many voters to give the president a pass on the economy.  [Another poll result: “who is to blame for the present state of the economy?”  53% said Bush, only 38% cited Obama – after nearly four years in office?]

I suggest that 2012 was the political equivalent of a perfect storm for Republicans.  Despite all the apparent economic factors in its favor, the GOP ship of state sunk to the bottom due to the performance of its captain who confronted a surprisingly strong Obama wind generating capsizing waves. 

How can the waters not be calmer for conservatives next time when Obama finally leaves office in the wake of the debacle that will be his second term.

But caution:  We’re unlikely to win in 2016 either unless we do a better job of selling our candidate and convincing that three percent that the conservative approach is superior to the Left’s.