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.

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

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

The New York Times’ Saturday edition reported on the effect that President Obama’s efforts abroad have had on his favorability numbers, and whether his wartime success will help his political future. The WG’s David Winston stated that Obama is ignoring the most important issue, which will affect his re-election possibilities:

“Foreign affairs is important, but when placed against the scale of the problem with jobs and the economy, it’s dwarfed,” said David Winston, a Republican strategist. “It’s the equivalent of a house on fire: he’s fixing the window while the rest of the house is burning down.”

To read the full article, click to nytimes.com