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26
Jul

Washington Post: GOP lawmakers optimistic about ‘no’ votes

by Lisa Mathias

Perry Bacon writes in today’s Washington Post about Republicans’ confidence in winning seats in November, and continuing opposition to Democratic initiatives. The Winston Group’s David Winston states that Democrats aren’t focused enough on the most important issues at hand:

Congressional Democrats and the White House “are trying to deal with these other issues when there is only one issue in the room: jobs and the economy,” said David Winston, a Republican pollster.

To read more, click to washingtonpost.com

21
Jul

The Hill: “GOP to focus on policy, not Pelosi”

by Lisa Mathias

The Hill features David Winston today in an article outlining the approach Republicans need to take in order to win seats this November. Republicans are trying to separate themselves from Nancy Pelosi and her Democrat followers, but David points out that the GOP needs to do more than just that, by showing the policy plans they will implement after the elections:

“Part of the dynamic here is the way President Obama and congressional Democrats govern ha[s] opened this door wide open for Republicans, but the public at this point isn’t just simply saying, ‘Look at how bad [Democrats] are.’ They want to know what you’re going to do — why should they vote for you?”

To read more, turn to thehill.com

20
Jul

Washington Post: Republicans divided on the importance of an agenda for midterm elections

by Lisa Mathias

WaPo released an article over the weekend by Karen Tumulty and Paul Kane, describing different approaches from Republicans on taking back the House. Some strategists are going for an attack plan, but others like David Winston say that a plan needs to be included in the GOP’s message to voters:

“What’s our plan to create jobs and grow the economy?” said GOP pollster David Winston, who is advising the House Republican leadership on the effort. “That’s really what we have to address. We need command focus.”

To read more, turn to washingtonpost.com

20
Jul

Washington Post: Rep. Connolly, rival Fimian quarrel over financial overhaul

by Lisa Mathias

The Winston Group’s David Winston comments in Monday’s Washington Post on why Wall Street reform is not exactly a hot button issue among voters, particularly those in Virginia’s 11th district, where rep. Gerald E. Connolly and Keith Fimian are fighting for the congressional seat.

” ‘What is this going to do to grow the economy and create jobs?’ ” Winston said voters would ask. “If everybody’s going to point fingers at each other, that’s not what people want to hear.”

To read the full article, click to washingtonpost.com

12
Jul

LA Times: A post-November congressional outlook: partisan gridlock

by Lisa Mathias

Doyle McManus featured David Winston in his July 11th column in the LA Times, writing about how the GOP’s potential success in the House may be a difficult one to reach, since Republicans have yet to settle on a unifying message. David explains why they are currently doing well in terms of public opinion:

Winston argues that the GOP should articulate a specific plan, but he also cautions against putting too much into it.

“One of the reason the door has opened for Republicans is that President Obama has focused on so many other things,” he added. “If you create an 87-point agenda, you’re making the same mistake.”

To read more, click to latimes.com

08
Jul

LA Times: The boomer defection

by Lisa Mathias

LA Times’ Doyle McManus notes that members of the baby boomer generation are identifying themselves more and more as Republicans, at least according to recent polls. This can prove to be a huge benefit to the GOP for the upcoming November elections. David Winston explains why this shift has occurred:

Polls taken during the healthcare debate last year found that senior citizens over 65 were more strongly opposed to the plan than any other age group — but over time, they were joined by middle-aged baby boomers, who became increasingly negative.

“Older voters are worried that the quality of their healthcare could decline,” said David Winston, a Republican pollster. “That opens a door where they’re willing to listen to Republicans. It’s a huge opportunity.”

To read more: click to latimes.com

08
Jul

CNBC: Geithner Shares Economic Outlook

by Lisa Mathias


Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner shares his economic outlook and discusses trade with CNBC’s Larry Kudlow. David Winston, of The Winston Group, and Josh Gottheimer, of Burson-Marsteller, share their reactions to Geithner’s comments.

06
Jul

St. Petersburg Times: Midterm elections: Economy pushes war into background

by Lisa Mathias

The St. Petersburg Times released an article on Monday, July 5th concerning how the war in Iraq and Afghanistan has been pushed aside in the agendas of candidates running for office this year. But the Winston Group’s David Winston explains that with the state of the economy at home, the fighting abroad is the lesser of most Americans’ worries:

“It dwarfs everything,” said Republican pollster David Winston. “It’s sort of like looking at a house and there’s all these things that need repair, but if the roof’s on fire, all these things are secondary. Jobs and the economy are the equivalent of the fire on the roof.”

To read the entire article, click on www.tampabay.com

06
Jul

Wall St. Journal: Democrats’ Peril, GOP’s Challenge

by Lisa Mathias

Over the 4th of July weekend, the Wall Street Journal released a story on the recent employment report posted on Friday, July 2nd. Among mixed responses from Democrats and the GOP regarding the report, public opinion appears to sway toward the Republican party’s outlook on the lack of progress Democrats have brought to the table. The story includes comments from The WG’s David Winston:

“People have lost confidence in what the Democrats are doing,” said Republican strategist David Winston. “But that is not enough of a reason to vote for Republicans. Republicans still have to answer the question, ‘Why us?’ “

To read the entire article, turn to http://online.wsj.com

25
Jun

Washington Examiner: Obama and Dems heading for electoral disaster

by Lisa Mathias

In Byron York’s latest piece for the Washington Examiner, The WG’s David Winston explains why Obama’s poll numbers look bad for Democrats in this mid-term election year:

Of course, Obama isn’t on the ballot this November. But his ratings contribute to what Winston calls the public’s “overall sense of the ability to govern.” From that perspective, Obama’s troubles are the Democrats’ troubles.

To read more about the poll numbers and Republican response to them, read the full article at washingtonexaminer.com

10
Jun

Roll Call:Republicans Encouraged to Pound Democrats Over Budget

by Lisa Mathias

Roll Call’s Jackie Kucinich reports on Republican leaders’ push for fiscal responsibility and rein in spending. Republican Leader John Boehner referred to a Winston Group poll at their recent meeting that backs their message:

Boehner released new data produced by Republican pollster David Winston. The survey of 1,000 registered voters just before the Memorial Day recess showed that 62 percent believed that by not passing a budget, Congress missed an opportunity to “rein in spending.”

Access the full article (with an account) on rollcall.com

10
Jun

John Boehner: Mistake to not pass budget

by Lisa Mathias

In Wednesday’s Politico, Jake Sherman write about how GOP leaders are forming their message around jobs and the economy – Sherman states that this message comes with support from one of our recent polls:

Republicans are hanging their words partially on a Winston Group poll, which showed that 62 percent of those surveyed believe that Congress’s failure to pass a budget means that it is “missing an opportunity to rein in government spending and provide fiscal discipline that economists say is needed to create jobs and grow the economy.”

To read the full article, turn to
politico.com

09
Jun

Washington Post: Health-care debate still alive and well for parties

by Lisa Mathias

David Winston comments on how the healthcare debate continues between the GOP and Democrats, in today’s Washington Post:

“For the election, part of what you want to do is contrast what would happen if you were governing,” said David Winston, a Republican pollster who advises party leaders in Congress. “The Democrats and President Obama spent months talking about health care, and Republicans say they should have spent that time working on jobs.”

Access the full article at washingtonpost.com

08
Jun

US News & World Report: Republicans Worry They Could Squander 2010 Opportunity

by Lisa Mathias

The WG’s David Winston comments in Paul Bedard’s Washington Whispers column today on how the GOP can’t rest easy in 2010 and expect to win in 2012 as well:

David Winston, a GOP pollster who worked on the 1994 Contract with America Republican majorities, says the 2010 elections offer a “real opportunity,” but so does 2012. The reason: The Bush tax cuts expire starting later this year, and the economy could get socked. “I don’t view this year as a one-shot deal.”

To check out the fill Washington Whispers post, go to usnews.com

08
Jun

Des Moines Register: New Iowa Poll shows GOP majority favors Terry Branstad in governor’s race

by Lisa Mathias

Thomas Beaumont recently featured The Winston Group’s David Winston in a piece discussing Iowa’s primary for governor; polls show former governor Terry Brandstad in the lead:

“Branstad is proving that his credentials and an economic focus as a conservative puts together a large majority coalition,” said David Winston, a national Republican pollster. “It’s a good position for him to be in, and positions him well for the general election.”

To read the full article, click on desmoinesregister.com

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