As ABC News reports, 56 percent of registered voters disapprove of Obama's handling of the economy. Since the 2012 presidential election has hinged on the economy, one might think Romney would be the clear front-runner. However Gallup shows Romney with a slim 1 point lead ahead of Obama, Rasmussen finds 53 percent of Americans predict Obama will win, compared to 33 percent for Romney, and Intrade shows Barack Obama has a 56.7% chance of winning compared to Romney's 43.1%.
This conundrum may be in part explained by the American public's skepticism that Romney would actually improve the economy. While 58 percent say they are not confident the economy would improve under a second Obama term, 52 percent aren't confident it would improve under Romney either. Consequently pollster Gary Langer suggests: "Romney could benefit by sharpening his argument that he'd do better."
Ann Romney, in her widely well received GOP convention speech Tuesday evening, made an emotional case that her husband could in fact improve the economy. "No one will work harder. No one will care more. No one will move heaven and earth like Mitt Romney to make this country a better place to live!"
It is clear that Ann Romney's speech was intended to speak to what this polling data reveals. Although 50 percent of Americans say they trust Romney to handle the economy (7 points higher than Obama) a majority don't believe the economy would actually improve under Romney. To this point, Ann Romney made several bold assertions:
This is the man who will wake up every day with the determination to solve the problems that others say can't be solved, to fix what others say is beyond repair. This is the man who will work harder than anyone so that we can work a little less hard… I can't tell you what will happen over the next four years. But I can only stand here tonight, as a wife, a mother, a grandmother, an American, and make you this solemn commitment: This man will not fail. This man will not let us down. This man will lift up America!
Comments