The Winston Group is a strategy and research firm dedicated to making ideas matter.

21
Jan

Diane Rehm Show: “Analysis of President Obama’s 2015 State of the Union Address”

by Emily O'Connor

The WG’s David Winston was a guest on the Diane Rehm Show’s analysis of President Obama’s 2015 State of the Union Address. Here’s a few highlights from his thoughts on the speech:

Listen to the whole show here, and be sure to follow The Winston Group on Twitter.

 

03
Feb

WSJ: Cantor: Expect 2014 Vote on a GOP Health Law

by Lisa Mathias

The Wall Street Journal reports on the recent GOP conference in which Republican leaders discussed policy proposals. Health care was a major issue discussed at the event. According to the WG’s David Winston, after last year’s government shutdown, the dialogue had a different tone:

“This is a different conference after the shutdown,” said GOP pollster David Winston, who spoke to lawmakers at the retreat. “What happened with the shutdown was that nothing moved forward in the way Republicans would like to see. The only way to move things forward is to make proposals and support them.”

To read the full article, turn to blogs.wsj.com, healthguidance.

24
Jan

Washington Examiner: Pollster: Obama’s ‘You can keep it’ hurts like ‘Read my lips’ hit Bush

by Lisa Mathias

The Washington Examiner’s Paul Bedard recently interviewed The WG’s David Winston to get his opinion on President’s Obama’s claim that “If you like your healthcare plan, you can keep it.”

“It’s a real problem,” said Winston, explaining that Obama already suffers from poor approval ratings and is viewed unfavorably by the public.

But it’s a huge opening for the GOP. “This is a big moment,” he said. “We’re in a position where people are open to listening to us.”

To read the full article, turn to washingtonexaminer.com

25
Oct

Politico: Obamacare Wins? See you in 2014

by Lisa Mathias

With the government shutdown over and the Obamacare website now live, Washington debates center around the site’s inability to operate properly as promised. David Nather writes that the issue is becoming one that could define the 2013 elections. David Winston comments:

“The challenge for Republicans is to make this a policy fight, not a political fight,” said David Winston, a top Republican pollster who advises the House GOP leadership. “It’s incumbent upon Republicans to come up with an alternative. For most people, going back to where we were is not an option.”

Read more: politico.com

28
Jun

US News and World Report: Supreme Court’s Obamacare Ruling Gives Romney a New Rallying Cry

by Lisa Mathias

The WG’s Stephanie Slade wrote in the today’s US News to comment on the outcome of today’s Supreme Court ruling on Affordable Care Act. Slade doesn’t necessarily see this as a win for Obama:

With this decision, President Obama became the poster child for the nanny state. If the federal government can hit citizens with a tax for choosing not to buy insurance, can it do the same to those who don’t eat their vegetables? How about those who aren’t members of a gym? The Supreme Court appears to think so; American voters are unlikely to agree.

To read the full op-ed, go to US News and World Report.

29
Sep

WSJ: Health Overhaul Heads to Justices

by Lisa Mathias

Today’s Wall Street Journal features a piece on the Obama administration’s decision to leave the health care overhaul to the Supreme Court. The Court’s decision could effect the 2012 elections, potentially putting the issue back into the forefront.

“Having this particular issue emerge right in the middle of the presidential campaign draws attention back to the fact that, while the economy was tanking, he was focusing on health care,” said David Winston, a Republican pollster.

To read more, check out wsj.com.

01
Aug

Politico: Does deal muddy Medicare waters?

by Lisa Mathias

Sunday’s Politico features a story pitting Paul Ryan’s health care plan against President Obama’s health care law, and features comments from David Winston on public opinion about Ryan’s plan:

At the very least, public opinion on the Ryan plan may be more in flux than it is on the health reform law. “They’re still working through what they think of the Ryan plan,” said Winston, the Republican pollster. “They’ve pretty much worked through what they think of Obamacare.”

Read more: politico.com

12
May

Politico: GOP seeks new Medicare message

by Lisa Mathias

Jonathan Allen writes for today’s Politico on what to do with Medicare, as the GOP prepares to release attack ads on cable tv this week. Americans face divergent views on the issue not only between Democrats and Republicans, but among Republicans themselves. The WG’s David Winston tries to help put the situation in perspective for Republicans:

Winston says the difference between this effort to rein in Medicare and past Republican attempts to do the same is that more voters are aware of the nation’s dire debt situation and that more of them understand Medicare is going broke.

“Dealing with Medicare is how we’re going to make the government solvent so that we can get the economy back on track,” he said.

Read more: politico.com

22
Apr

WSJ Washington Wire: Both Sides Launch Ads on Medicare

by Lisa Mathias

Laura Meckler for the Wall St. Journal writes about new Medicare ads that have sprung up recently, with both political sides attacking each other. Meckler points out that voters aren’t so easily swayed, and The WG’s David Winston reaffirms the fact that voters need to hear more to be convinced of either side:

“I think the public is tired of the political discourse and they want to hear some substance going back and forth,” said pollster David Winston, who advises House GOP leaders.

To read the full article, turn to wsj.com

21
Jan

Wall St. Journal: Republicans Look Beyond Repeal Vote

by Lisa Mathias

In today’s Wall St. Journal, Naftali Bendavid describes Republican leaders’ efforts to repeal the health care bill, even though the issue is divided evenly among Americans. The WG’s David Winston states that the GOP can focus on the issue, but needs to tie it back to an even bigger concern in voters’ minds:

“Are [voters] unhappy with the health-care plan? Sure,” said Republican strategist David Winston. “But they’re more unhappy with the unemployment rate. The key thing is to make sure it’s clear in their minds how it’s related.”

To read the full article, access it at wsj.com

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