PHOENIX - Each Sunday, ABC15.com debuts an Arizona issue - along with two opposing sides on the topic.
Don’t worry, you always have the opportunity to make comments at the bottom of the page. Yeah, your opinion matters, too.
This week we’re tackling the debate on the chances of the Republican party beating President Barack Obama in the upcoming presidential election.
Chip Scutari, Republican half of Scutari and Cieslak Public Relations, says Barack Obama will be a great guest on the talk show circuit come January 2013 after Mitt Romney's inauguration. He says Romney's numbers will now start to increase with women and Independents.
Dave Cieslak, Democratic half of Scutari and Cieslak Public Relations, says if New Jersey Governor Chris Christie were the Republican nominee, he would be answering this question very differently. But with Mitt Romney as the presumptive nominee, Cieslak says Barack Obama will be in the White House for another four years.
Click “next page” to read the first of two positions, “ President Obama will get another four years ”.
“President Obama will get another four years”: By Dave Cieslak, Democratic half of Scutari and Cieslak Public Relations who served as the Arizona communications director for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign Somewhere in New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie is kicking himself.
Like most of America, Christie probably never envisioned a scenario in which the Republican presidential primary would be such a sideshow. Between a crop of embarrassing candidates, a hijacking by the party’s extremist base and the total alienation of Republican women and minorities, it really couldn’t have gotten worse for the “Party of Lincoln.”
Christie must be wondering what could have happened if he had run – as many Republicans urged him to do. He likely would have won the primary, and this pragmatic, moderate governor of a key state would have given President Obama the fight of his political life.
If Christie were the Republican nominee, I’d be answering ABC15’s question about the likelihood of a GOP candidate beating Obama very differently. But with Mitt Romney as the presumptive nominee, this isn’t a tough one to predict: Barack Obama will spend the next four years in the White House. Here are three quick reasons why:
- Although my Reagan-worshipping business partner doesn’t want to admit it, Obama has done a tremendous job and made America stronger. After inheriting the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, Obama reduced unemployment, saved the auto industry, made it easier for young people to get a college degree, and is fighting to ensure that people with pre-existing medical conditions can get health insurance. Not bad for a few year’s work, right Chip?
- Mitt Romney is an embarrassment of riches for Democrats. He’s aloof and out of touch with middle-class Americans, flip-flops on virtually every issue presented to him (Obama-care, anyone?), and has as much charisma as 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry. We all remember how that turned out.
- The uninspiring Romney just endured a brutal primary in which Rick Santorum, a radical right-winger who scares most moderate Republicans, won a handful of states that Romney should have taken. Romney’s myriad weaknesses were put on display, and the strategists working behind the scenes at the Obama campaign will find ways to exploit each of them. Let’s be honest: when Rick Santorum is keeping you awake at night, something is very wrong in your campaign – and your party.
Don’t worry, Mr. Romney: I hear your servants are busy shining up the vehicle elevator (yup, he has one of those) in your La Jolla, Calif., mansion. You’ll be spending a lot of time there after November.
As for Chris Christie, I’d imagine 2016 can’t get here soon enough.
Do you agree with this opinion? Add a comment below to sound off.
Click “next page” to read the first of two positions, “ Mitt Romney's numbers will start to increase ”.
“Mitt Romney's numbers will start to increase”: By Dave Cieslak, Republican half of Scutari and Cieslak Public Relations who first became intrigued by politics during Ronald Reagan’s inaugural speech while sitting on his grandmother’s couch Republican contenders are slugging through a down-and-dirty GOP presidential primary that’s lasted longer than two baseball seasons. Millions and millions of dollars poured into go-for-the-jugular TV ads, back-and-forth bickering and nasty hand-to-hand combat at 20 televised debates. The GOP presidential field, according to pundits, is a bunch of B Listers. Chumps. A weak field. Insert cliché here.
Meanwhile, the American economy is showing signs of improvement. President Obama ordered a daring and successful assassination of Osama bin Laden. Wow, Republicans are sacrificial lambs in 2012, right? There’s no way to derail the Obama Express.
Not so fast, grasshopper. Spring training is over.
There’s this pesky thing called reality. That’s why Barack Obama will be a great guest on the talk show circuit come January 2013. He’ll be a ratings coup for Oprah’s exclusive after Mitt Romney’s inauguration.
Unlike my tax-and-spend business partner, I prefer thought and insight to loud rants and reckless rhetoric about “extremist politicians.”Real Clear Politics, a handy dandy aggregate of political polls, puts Mr. Obama’s job approval rating today at a paltry 47 percent. Check the facts – something my Limousine Liberal friend is loath to do. Only three presidents in American history – Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford and George W. Bush – have been saddled with approval ratings less than 50 percent heading into a re-election campaign. Only one, Dubya, won a second term. Uh oh. For all his flowery rhetoric (thank you, Mr. Tele Prompter), Joe Six Pack hasn’t connected with President “Hope and Change.” One other factoid to chew on: Obama is only beating Romney by 4 points nationally, basically within the margin of error.
Romney gets a second chance to make a first impression across America. The Mitt Romney “I’m Really a Good Guy” Road Show will commence in two weeks after he vanquishes Rick Santorum in his home state of Pennsylvania. His numbers will start to increase with women and Independents. In 2008, Obama was a political rock star. Now he’s just another D.C. politician and his arrogance grows by the day. He actually lectured the U.S. Supreme Court about the constitutionality of his health care reform before they issued a ruling. What? It’s the court’s job to determine if Obama Care is legal or not. Keep pontificating, Mr. President!
Check off Labor Day on your calendars. The NFL season kicks off, kids head back to school and the presidential conventions are over. Real people (read: not Dave and Chip) start paying attention. The White House is up for grabs. Keep an eye on the 12 key “swing states,” political turf that could vote for either Obama or Romney. Five of those states which have a boatload of Electoral College delegates – Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio and Virginia – are now controlled by Republican governors.
The betting line in Vegas – if there was such a thing – would be too close to call. The perfect climate for a Republican upset win in November.
Do you agree with this opinion? Add a comment below to sound off.
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