N2K Presidential Race: Romney's Latino Outreach
Mitt Romney has a plan to lure Latino voters into his camp, and perhaps not surprisingly, it's the same strategy he's employing to win over women, young people, independents, and all other undecided voters. Here's a hint: It's the economy, stupid.
"Did you know that the rate of unemployment among Hispanic-Americans rose last month to 11 percent?" Romney said on Tuesday during a rally in Fort Worth, Texas. "And that the people in this country that are poor, living in poverty, one out of three are Hispanic-American?"
You couldn't blame any Republican who, upon hearing Romney's remarks, may have whispered, "Finally."
Indeed, the political chattering class has long wondered: When will Romney, who lags far behind President Obama with Latino voters, signal an aggressive outreach to the country's fastest-growing demographic? And, considering Romney's hard-right stance on illegal immigration made his Republican rivals look moderate by comparison, perhaps the more salient question is: How will Romney sell himself to a group that was often ignored and occasionally vilified during the brutal, prolonged GOP primary contest?
The bottom line is that when Romney finally offered an olive branch this week to wary Latino voters, he did it on his terms, talking about jobs and the economy rather than immigration and foreign policy. Read more
— Tim Alberta
NATIONAL JOURNAL’S PRESIDENTIAL RACE REPORT
Cruel June for Obama, Democrats Could Get Worse
[Associated Press, 6/6/12] With Tuesday’s bitter loss in Wisconsin’s gubernatorial recall and last week’s jobs report, June is already proving a cruel month for Obama and the Democrats. But it could get a lot worse: SCOTUS will soon rule on the president’s 2010 health care law, and Democrats are fighting to hold on to former Rep. Gabrielle Gifford’s House seat in next Tuesday’s special election in Arizona.
Jobs, Money, Scott Walker: Is It Time for Democrats to Panic?
[National Journal, 6/7/12] Democrats are having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad June. But if it’s time to start panicking, most of them haven’t gotten the memo. As National Journal's Naureen Khan writes, Democrats nationwide, both publicly and privately, seem remarkably Zen about their party’s prospects in November.
Romney’s Transition Team Leader Not Afraid To Pick Fights With The Right NEW!
[TPM, 6/7/12] Conservatives are nervous about Mike Leavitt, the man tapped to run Romney's transition team. Romney is known to create a circle of trusted advisers around him so Leavitt could have a prominent role in the White House.
The New Obama NEW!
[National Review, 6/7/12] A difference can be seen in Obama's current style and record from the Obama of four years ago. National Review's Victor Davis Hanson breaks down the differences in his actions during the two campaigns.
Romney’s Tipping Point
[National Journal, 6/7/12] If Romney is inaugurated as president in January, history may look to June as the month when Obama's fate was sealed, writes Hotline's Reid Wilson. Republicans would love to convince voters that the president is at fault, but there’s little he can do to alter the course of the world economy.
Obama's Cabinet Members Mix Policy, Politics
[Politico, 6/7/12] Obama has turned his 6 person cabinet loose for multiple fundraisers and more than 85 trips, thus far. Half of their travels have been to swing-states where they echo the campaign messaging of Obama and Biden.
Amid Jokes, Rick Perry Vows He's Not Done NEW!
[USA Today, 6/7/12] At the Texas Republican convention today, Governor Rick Perry poked fun at himself and his attempt to win the GOP presidential nomination. But, he assured his audience that there is no chance he is done with politics.
Romney, GOP Committees Raise $76.8 Million in May
[National Journal, 6/7/12] The Romney campaign and the Republican committees that support it raised $76.8 million in May, the campaign announced on Thursday. The haul far surpasses the $60 million the Obama campaign and Democratic committees brought in.
Ron Paul Says Supporters Will Be Out in Force in Tampa NEW!
[Washington Post, 6/7/12] In an email to supporters on Wednesday night, Paul announced his campaign will send 200 delegates to the Republican National Convention in Tampa. He added that 500 supporters will be present as delegates on the Convention floor, despite AP's count that Paul only has 136 delegates.
Sheldon Adelson To Give $1 Million to Pro-Romney Super PAC
[CNN, 6/7/12] Sheldon Adelson, the casino mogul who backed Newt Gingrich, will give $1 million in his "first round of donations" to the pro-Romney super PAC Restore Our Future — and probably a whole lot more. Politico's Ken Vogel writes that the race for Adelson’s cash is emblematic of a larger phenomenon — the power struggle between the outside groups trying to defeat Obama.
Pitfalls, Promise for Obama and Romney in Nevada
[Associated Press, 6/7/12] In Nevada, Obama is fighting the economy and Romney is fighting an organized and well- funded state Democratic Party machine. The playing field is leveled and the two candidates head into the summer in a close race in the state.
Poll: Obama, Romney Tied in Michigan
[National Journal, 6/7/12] President Obama and Mitt Romney are in a virtual dead heat in Michigan, as self-identified independent voters have abandoned the incumbent, according to a new poll released on Thursday.The poll shows Romney leading Obama 46 percent to 45 percent, well within the poll's margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Poll: Obama’s Va. Coalition Gives Him Slight Lead Over Romney
[National Journal, 6/7/12] Obama holds a slight and tenuous lead over Romney in Virginia, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released on Thursday morning that also shows that, despite his high approval ratings, Gov. Bob McDonnell would provide no electoral boost as Romney’s veep pick.
Clinton Aides: Bill Screwed Up
[Politico, 6/7/12] Big Dog has been known for wandering off script, but his remarks about taxes and Romney in the past few days have perplexed even Clinton’s own staffers and led him to admit, “I’m a little rusty at politics.” The gaffes prompted “what-he-meant-to-say” clarifications that the Obama team helped craft. Meanwhile, here's why Obama still needs the unpredictable 42nd president.
Ann Romney Begins Campaign Push for Her Husband
[Real Clear Politics, 6/7/12] Ann Romney began solo general-election campaigning this week with two public events in Florida. Contrastingly, Michelle Obama has been around the country for months for her husband's campaign.
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