The Winston Group

As election season continues and Mitt Romney looks to be the likely GOP candidate, President Obama has started launching attacks, particularly over Romney’s past business experience with Bain Capital. Romney had to deal with the subject before, in debates during the Republican primary. The WG’s David Winston says that attacking Romney over his business past may not end up winning over potential voters for Obama:

During the Republican primary, challengers Newt Gingrich and Texas Gov. Rick Perry went after Romney’s record at the firm, with Perry famously referring to Romney as a “vulture capitalist.” Their arguments resonated less with Republican voters, many of whom dismissed them as an attack on capitalism.

Gingrich’s pollster, David Winston, said: “Newt’s attacking Romney over Bain didn’t work, and Newt’s moving off of it in South Carolina was a key decision in helping Newt win that primary.”

To read more, click to washingtonpost.com

The Winston Grou’s David Winston comments in a story released today that looks at how Obama’s support of gay marriage will possibly affect voters in crucial swing states. Winston states that the issue is a distraction from what is really concerning the country right now: the economy.

David Winston, a Republican pollster who advises GOP congressional leaders, suggested that the same dynamic is at play down the ballot.

“Any day that Democrats don’t have the issue be jobs and the economy is a day they’re doing better,” he said. “That’s probably a good day for all Democratic candidates.”

To read the full story, turn to washingtonpost.com.

Washington Post writes about the shift of focus from social issues to ones like gas and energy, as Congressional Republicans attempt to push a temporary highway bill. The WG’s David Winston states that the GOP needs to approach it from an economic standpoint:

So long as Republicans can connect the gas price issue to the broader economy, they have an edge over Democrats, particularly because voters appear to favor a two-pronged approach of more drilling now and pushing for alternative energy sources for the future, Winston said. “There’s a much more realistic sense of we’ve got to meet present energy needs.”

To read the full article turn to washingtonpost.com.

The New York Times writes on Tuesday about President Obama’s proposed plan on the minimum tax required by the wealthiest Americans, dubbed the “Buffet Rule.” While Democrats state that polls are showing voter support for such policy change, The WG’s David Winston states that Americans won’t see it as a plan to resolve the economy and jobs problem:

“The No. 1 issue is jobs and the economy, so any proposal put forward has to look like it will advance that,” Mr. Winston said, adding, “I don’t think anybody believes that raising taxes ever grows the economy and creates jobs.”

To read more, turn to nytimes.com

Politico reports on the GOP leadership retreat that took place in Baltimore over this past weekend, and states that there was a general goal to unify under one message. Among diverging opinions on what that message should be, The WG’s David Winston presented evidence that it should remain on creating jobs:

Perhaps most striking was Winston’s messaging advice: It showed that GOP talking points over the past year have been largely useless. A recent poll that he presented in a slideshow indicated that when considering the 2012 election, 58 percent of the country thinks the phrase ““Where are the jobs?” is more important than what the size and role of government should be, which registers at 37 percent.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/

Stephanie Slade, one of the WG’s project directors, released her first full-length op-ed in US News and World Report today, giving her thoughts on how the US should address income inequality.

But what people often fail to recognize is that the state is itself the tool by which the haves keep the have-nots without. Removing their secret weapon would, in fact, level the playing field for all participants in a way no amount of government intervention ever could.

To read the full piece, turn to usnews.com

USA Today writes about the latest Republican debate in Michigan, where candidate and Texas Governor Rick Perry failed to list the third of three government entities that he would get rid of if voted for President. The WG’s David Winston says this slip-up wasn’t going to help Perry’s already slipping poll numbers:

The debate performance didn’t help, Republican pollster David Winston said.
“It was a very difficult thing to watch,” he said. “Anything is possible but this is a really deep hole.”

To read more, turn to usatoday.com

The Olympian writes about the 4th allegation claiming sexual harassment to come out against Republican candidate Herman Cain, just as his poll numbers were doing well. The WG’s David Winston states that likely Republican voters may not necessarily take this news to the polls:

“The electorate is following this election very closely and they are going to think through every piece of information that is put in front of them in the most thoughtful way they can,” he said. “This is an election where everyone is concerned about direction of the country

Read more: The Olympian