The ever-expanding Republican presidential field, which threatens to splinter over social issues as dark horses grab hot-button topics for attention, is being urged to stick to the economy — where the real pot of voter gold sits.
“Concern over the economy is the highest I’ve ever seen,” top GOP pollster Ed Goeas told the moderate Republican Ripon Society. He said 72 percent are worried about an economic downturn.
“Republicans need to get into the game on better turf and that means talking in specifics about how we will bring the economy back and help create the jobs that go with real recovery,” added pollster David Winston.
The exit polls from the 2012 and 2008 primaries and caucuses back them up, showing that the candidate who was considered by voters to be best on the economy usually won that state’s contest.
According to Winston, the economy was the top voter concern in 45 of 46 primaries and caucuses during both elections. The only exception was the 2008 Iowa caucus where illegal immigration trumped the economy, 33 percent to 26 percent.
During both elections, the issues of immigration and abortion were minor blips. And social issues don’t dominate southern contests. In 2012, for example, the states of Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Maryland and Wisconsin had the highest voter concerns about abortion, above South Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Alabama.
Winston also said candidates perceived to have “won the economy” usually won that state’s election. “So in 2012, if the candidate was winning the economy, they were the winner in 19 out of 20 primaries/caucuses. In 2008, if the candidate was winning the economy, they won 25 out of 26,” he added in an analysis for the Washington Examiner.
For example, in 2012, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich won the economy as the issue in South Carolina where he pulled off his upset victory.
HUMANE SOCIETY BROADENS REACH
The Washington-based Humane Society of the United States is expanding lobbying operations to all 50 states and 70 countries as it shifts focus to promoting a “humane economy” that embraces animal welfare.
President Wayne Pacelle told the Examiner that recent victories have propelled the expansion.
“We are making enormous progress in the domains of animal welfare, as it relates to food and agriculture, entertainment and animal testing” he said. “It’s time to step on the gas and drive even bigger changes throughout society, and that’s exactly what we plan to do.”
Key goals include having representatives in 70 countries, up from 50, and state councils in all 50 states and “leaders” in all 435 congressional districts.
“I want to press the case,” said Pacelle, whose new book, “The Humane Economy,” will be released in March.
It won’t stop the critics, however, especially HumaneWatch.org, out with a new brochure that accuses the Humane Society of “deceptive fundraising practices.” The arm of the Center for Consumer Freedom charges that the Humane Society indicates it raises money for local pet shelters, but spends most lobbying for animal rights. It is a charge echoed by Humane Society targets such as the National Pork Producers Council.
RURAL MEDIA MOVE TO TAKE CHARGE OF EARLY PRIMARIES
Tired of big city media taking over political coverage in early rural primaries and caucuses, local media is elbowing in to demand that the parties and candidates address issues such as agriculture.
Led by the Nashville-based RFD-TV, the goal is to force candidates to get up to speed on rural concerns rather than focus simply on questions posed by the national media.
“Rural states set the tone,” said RFD-TV founder Patrick Gottsch, noting that four — Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina — are the first to choose presidential nominees. “There aren’t enough rural questions being asked,” he added.
In a move endorsed by the parties, RFD-TV working with SiriusXM and cable provider Mediacom are planning a new one-hour interview program called “Rural Town Hall” that will feature one candidate at a time addressing rural issues and questions from group such as the 4-H. Host Orion Samuelson said questions will range from agriculture to small-town education and to aging workers and migrant immigration.
One thing it won’t be, added Gottsch, is gotcha journalism: up to 200 questions will be provided to candidates in advance. “Hopefully,” he said, “we’ll light a fire and create an understanding. We’re in the business of building a bridge between urban and rural.”
QUOTE:
“Tiger should play as much as Obama. He’d be doing much better.”
New Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in a slap at President Obama’s more than 200 golf outings
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
