EDITORIAL: What President Barack Obama, Mitt Romney need to say in tonight's debate
The first debate between President Barack Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney takes place in prime-time tonight, providing each candidate the chance to reach out to the public and offer up their vision for America going forward. And while each differs greatly in policy and rhetoric, they are both at different points in their respective campaigns.
Most polls say Obama holds a lead nationally while also commanding comfortable leads in many of the swing states needed to rack up enough votes in the Electoral College. At the same time, most analysts agree the economy remains stagnant, illuminated by an unemployment rate that isn't declining as quickly as some what would like.
Given that, Obama and Romney each come into tonight's debate with a specific, differing playbook. One that could propel each into the White House, or send them back home.
Romney's game plan should boil down to the old adage: It's the economy, stupid. With the national unemployment rate still above eight percent and September jobs numbers due out Friday, the former Massachusetts governor still has a chance to turn the tide on the polls. But he has to come out swinging.
Plenty of people around the country are still unemployed, or even underemployed, and hurting financially. Instead of offering generalities, like his campaign has spent the better part of the last few months doing, he must begin to offer specifics on what he plans to do — and how it will directly affect those unemployed. When people feel like they can relate, they'll listen. And Romney needs all the ears he can get.
Obama needs to lay out his second-term plans for economic growth: More infrastructure projects, tax incentives for businesses to create jobs at home, green energy projects, etc. and debt reduction, a balanced mix of tax increases on income above $250,000 and spending cuts, in a way voters can easily understand.
Most of those ideas enjoy popular support in polls, but because Obama has failed to effectively communicate those ideas to the public, many voters have no idea what he truly stands for.
The president also needs to destroy Romney’s claim that his success as a businessman will translate to national economic success should he win. He needs to point out that running a business, especially a private equity firm focused on profit rather than job creation, is completely different from being President of the United States.
In addition, Obama must link Romney directly back to former President George W. Bush. If Obama can successfully make a Romney presidency out to be a third Bush term, which given Romney’s economic policies is not too far-fetched, then Romney will be sure to take a hit in the polls since Bush is still blamed by many voters for the country’s economic state.
