The Romney campaign has done some internal soul-searching after realizing that they were on a trajectory for certain defeat. This week, they are prepared to roll out a forward-looking message that focuses on a five-point plan, including a promise of energy independence by 2020 and the creation of 12 million new jobs. Unfortunately for them, they ran into massive self-inflicted headwinds and articles about a campaign in disarray before they could even launch their reboot. The primary source for this is an article published last night in Politico that airs a tremendous amount of internal discord and bickering. Most of the unhappiness is directed at Romney’s top strategist, Stuart Stevens, but most of the criticism rubs off directly on the candidate and his decision-making.
So, before we even get a glimpse of the Obama campaign’s plans for the week, we see the Romney campaign bogged down in a tar pit of their own making. President Obama will announce today that he’s taking a complaint about China to the World Trade Organization, arguing that state subsidies to their auto industry create an unfair trade advantage. The announcement will be made in Ohio, where it is certain to receive an enthusiastic response.
The move on China is preemptive, as getting tough on China is one spoke in Romney’s five-part wheel:
The Romney campaign has prepared a series of ads, to air in battleground states, arguing that Romney’s plan would create 12 million jobs. Aides said the ads will highlight his trade policies to crack down on China, his plans to help small businesses grow and his specific plan to cut the spiraling federal deficit.
Thus, this is a case of Team Obama cutting off Team Romney at the pass. However, the first focus for Romney is supposed to be the national debt.
The national debt will be a key focus early this week. Romney and his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, will highlight the debt burden that mothers and grandmothers will pass onto their children and grandchildren — an issue advisers think can help Romney close the gap with Obama among women voters. The campaign also plans to stage a ticking electronic debt clock at campaign rallies, an aide said.
I don’t know how the Obama campaign plans to counter that particular message, but with Romney’s camp preoccupied with putting out self-set office fires, they may not need to.
