Voices
spoke to perfectly legitimate
concerns that liberals either
ignored or minimized.
The advantage of this base
broadening was simple: it not
only gave Nixon and Agnew the
votes they needed to win but
also deprived Humphrey of votes
he needed to win. Turning out a
member of one’s own base adds a
vote to one’s own total but doesn’t
necessarily subtract one from
one’s opponent. Getting support
from a voter that the other side
expects as its own does twice as
much good.
This is why, given their lagging
performance in the polls, it’s time
for Romney and Ryan to think
boldly about capturing traditionally Democratic groups.
The Obama administration’s
lackluster support for Israel and
downright refusal to meet with
the Jewish State’s Prime Minister
creates an opening to attract Jews
to the ticket.
The Romney campaign’s forward-looking answers to a science questionnaire gives it a
chance to attract more highly
educated scientists, engineers
and environmentalists who are
trending Democratic. (For the
record, Romney says in black and
ELI
LEHRER
HUFFINGTON
09.30.12
white that climate change is real
and caused by humans.)
Although gaining this sort of
support in huge numbers would
probably require policy changes
that aren’t feasible at this point,
Romney should seriously think
about changing policies on immigration
and gay marriage isBoth
sues when and if
Latino and
he moves into 1600
LGBT voters
Pennsylvania Avenue.
have many
Both Latino and LGBT
good reasons
voters may have many
to vote
good reasons to vote
Republican
Republican but, largebut, largely
ly because of misbecause of
guided policies, aren’t
misguided
going to vote that way
policies,
in November.
Romney is behind
aren’t going
in the polls and will
to vote
need to do something that way in
dramatic if he wants
November.”
to win six weeks
from now. Getting
some traditionally Democratic
voters to switch over would help
a lot. It’s a risky move and, given
Romney’s performance to date,
has a decent chance of failure.
But it’s certainly better than
writing off a huge portion
of the electorate.