Mr. President, All Signs Are Pointing to Your Rival

It is almost hard to imagine, given the unprecedented swell of support in 2008 and even how the polls were just 2 weeks ago, that President Obama's reelection could ever be vulnerable, but it is.

Gallup Poll shows Mitt Romney surging and is now enjoying a 7-point lead nationally.

Image from CNN

The press and the Obama team are trying to argue that polls don't really reflect the true heat of the race and that swing states are the only states that matter.  While I do agree, it is also hard to deny that 18-days before the election, momentum is clearly on Romney's side.

A lot can happen in the next few weeks, but I believe there are undeniable facts that hurt this president:  The economy is not improving.  Layoffs are happening in droves.  Americans aren't idiots.  And it's still about the economy.  Period.

I have said before that long after the soundbites have faded, Mitt Romney's words uttered in the last debate will leave a lasting sting on the president.  Namely, his scathing critique of the president's failed policies.

This short clip from Tuesday's debate, says it all and believe me, it won't be soon forgotten.

The president is asking for a second chance to get it right, but we are quickly beginning to see that he is asking us to take a huge gamble on him and we know full-well that we are the ones who will be impacted if he gets it wrong...again.

Americans concern for their own well-being must trump the allegiance once felt for a president they adored.  Mr. President, this time around, it has to be about us.  We have to put our job security ahead of yours.  We have to put our livelihood and financial security ahead of your political aspirations.

Truth is, we know you wanted to help.  We know you wanted to save us, but it didn't work.  Despite all you tried, America's economy is still crumbling.

We need to recover.  We need help.  We need leadership and it is becoming increasingly clear that to achieve it, all signs are pointing to your rival.

Image from Orlando Sentinel

Go Mitt.

The Presidential Debate: Sorry, Mr. President, You Built This Economy, but I Can Fix It

As we have come to know our president over the past four years, I think most would agree on a few things about him: 1) He is extremely competitive.  2)  He doesn't like to lose.  3) He hates it when he isn't the smartest person in the room.

All of this has been tested since his debate debacle in Denver.

Should it come as a surprise to anyone that his campaign is now vowing a "more aggressive," "improved," "47 percent referenced," "Bain Capital infused," "Romney tax plan," "better prepared" performance tonight?  

Everyone is expecting it--especially Mitt Romney, but he is ready for it.

Yes, the president will come out swinging, but the danger for Obama is that he knows his base is demanding it of him.  Biden tried to feed that beast last week and it proved to be disastrous for him among independents.  The latest Pew poll shows that 50% of independents thought Paul Ryan did a better job compared to 39% for Joe Biden.  Ouch.

It is going to be a tricky line for the president to feed his base the contentious meat they crave, while still convincing the undecided voter, (who is now giving Romney a solid look), to feel inspired that Obama's 2nd term agenda will somehow make up for all he was unable to accomplish in his first.

But what is going to be the hardest thing the president has to face?  Mitt Romney has found his feet.  

Image from The Examiner

In just 90 minutes on a stage here in Denver, Mitt Romney shattered the image that the Obama camp had desperately tried to create with hundreds of millions of dollars spent on ad campaigns to destroy his character.  Instead, Mitt Romney emerged as the leader with solutions, the leader with competence, and the believable, likable leader with the resume to back it all up.  

Like it or not, Romney spoke with authenticity.  He spoke with authority.  He inspired us and offered real solutions to our problems.  Americans liked what we heard.

Is Obama going to be feisty?  Probably.  Is Obama going to attack?  Undoubtedly.  Will Obama have a good debate?  Most likely, but what will Obama be unable to do?

Defend his record.

All Mitt Romney needs to do tonight is to continue to remind voters that Obama has had four years to accomplish everything he now promises.  He already had four years to fix the mess he inherited--to make things right.  He didn't.

Since Obama's inauguration:

• $4500 drop in Median income
• $5.5 trillion added to the deficit
• 47 million Americans living on Food Stamps
• 23 million unemployed Americans
• 5.5 million homes are in foreclosure
• 1 in 6 Americans now living in poverty
• Gas prices have doubled
• US credit rating has been downgraded for the first time in history

Maybe Mitt needs to simply say, "Sorry Mr. President, like it or not, you built that." And then confidently say, "But I can fix it."

Mitt Romney needs to remind us of Obama's record and then ask each American if their family can afford to find out what happens if the president gets it wrong...again.  The answer is most likely no.

Image from mittromney.com

What can we expect of Mitt Romney tonight?  Feistiness?  Anger?  Rattled?  Nerves?  Nope, just a subtle confidence that will continue to intimidate and rattle his rival. 

I can't wait. 

Go Mitt. 

A Blatant Display of Intolerance and Disrespect--and it Came from our Vice President

Last night, as I left parent teacher conferences, I was in a panic to get home and plop myself on the couch---I was an hour behind in the Vice Presidential debate.  (For political junkies like me, events like last night are our version of the Superbowl).

I reluctantly decided to listen to the debate on my car radio.  I was shocked at what I heard.  Biden was strong.  His answers were direct and authoritative.  He seemed to be commanding the debate.  I was worried.  Was Biden winning?

But then I got home and everything changed.

Image from Politico

Image from NBCnews.com

I turned on my TV and was quite frankly, shocked and disgusted by what I saw.  Joe Biden, the Vice President of the United States was treating his fellow colleague, a fellow leader  and "friend" with complete lack of respect and civility.  It was shocking.  The mocking tone he used was degrading.  His constant eye rolling, gasps, laughter and his "Cheshire-like" smile was quite frankly, insulting.  I could not believe that I was watching the Vice-President of the United States treat a fellow colleague with such disgust and contempt.

Wasn't it this Administration that promised to "change the tone?"  Promised to bring Americans together?  And promised to be a leader for all Americans not just the "blue" ones?

It sure didn't feel that way last night and to be honest, it hasn't felt like that for the last four years.

What I saw last night insulted me as an American.  My views may be different than the Vice President's, but it doesn't mean that my view point doesn't deserve to be respected.  It wasn't.  

I kept waiting for Ryan to look at the Vice President and say, "Mr. Biden, I know that you would like this to be a discussion between just the two of us here tonight, but it isn't.  This discussion tonight is about the differing ideology that millions of Americans hold sacred---and my viewpoints represents half of them.  Half of this country embraces these principles and you are insulting every single one of those Americans.  So you can laugh and roll your eyes at me, but keep in mind that you are actually treating half of this country with disrespect for the principles they hold dear."

Then I wish he would have said, "But Mr. Biden, Americans are just seeing for themselves why it has been virtually impossible to work with your Administration to pass any bipartisan-led legislation.  This is how your Administration has treated us from day one---with arrogance, mocking and complete lack of respect."

Image from USA today

But kudos to Paul Ryan for staying his genuine self, for keeping his composure while being mocked and for being, as CNN contributor David Gergen stated, presidential.

The outcome of this debate is still unknown, but nearly every poll released showed that Paul Ryan won the debate.  He did.

Will it matter?

Most analysts say no, but a few things became crystal clear and will resonate long after the debate clips stop airing:  In just 90 minutes, our Vice President typified everything that frustrates Americans about our government.  Joe Biden was the poster child for intolerance.  He was the epitome of disdain.  Joe Biden perfectly typified bitter partisanship and stubbornness.  And I would be willing to bet that most Americans didn't like what they saw.

That is the image that will last.  That is the bitter taste that will linger.  And like it or not, that is what will affect the undecided voter.

So the President can continue to praise his running mate for a strong performance and the Vice President can continue to flash his award winning smile, but the only base that was fired up last night was their own.

Yes, Joe Biden delivered some meat, but it was pretty clear it was covered in blue.

And with 25 days until election, that is not the kind of meat that wins elections.  That kind of meat insulted.  That kind of meat offended and that kind of meat came across a little desperate.

I firmly believe that all Americans deserve better than what this Administration has offered--on every front.

Go Mitt.

Really Mr. President? I'm speechless...

It has not been a good week for the president and things are about to get even worse.

The president and his team have seen today's poll numbers and undoubtedly recognize the fragile state of his campaign.  Yesterday's poll numbers show that Mitt Romney picked up a huge bounce from the debates.  Rasmussen poll has Mitt Romney leading nationally.  Pew shows Mitt Romney with a four point lead and Gallup shows the race tied at 47-47%.

Nearly every poll shows that Mitt Romney benefited significantly from the debates.

Image from politic365.com

What is important to note?  Every one of these polls had the president leading by several points just a week ago.

Even more noteworthy? The polls reflect that Mitt Romney has eradicated President Obama's lead among women voters.  In the Pew Research Center poll, Mitt Romney is now tied among likely women voters.  This is significant because the president has boasted of an 18 point lead among this crucial demographic.

The polls also reflect that Mitt Romney has a significant lead among independents.

Like it or not, Mitt Romney got a bigger bounce from the debate than Obama got from the Democratic National Convention.  The convention where former President Bill Clinton gave a "game changing" speech.

So what does the president do to reclaim his message?  How does he now reassure the American people that he cares about our financial stability?  And that his second term would somehow be different than the dismal results of his first?

He ran this ad.

Umm... I am speechless.

This is sophomoric.  This is ridiculous.  This is not presidential.

The president just made Mitt Romney's job a little easier.  Why?  Because Mitt Romney is the grownup in the room with a real and authentic plan to improve the state of our economy in America.  Even better? Mitt Romney has the resume to back it up.

Americans heard Mitt Romney's plan.  We believed him.  We liked what we heard.

Romney/Ryan rally in Florida (Image from freerepublic.com)

Sorry Mr. President, you are failing to address the fact that despite everything you oversaw, tried and spent, Americans are still hurting---Americans are still losing their jobs---America's economy is still broken.

What has changed?  Americans are now demanding results---results that your leadership could not produce.

Romney/Ryan rally in Florida (Image from freerepublic.com)

Go Mitt!