By Dave Andrusko
Everything at this stage strongly suggests that the presidential contest between pro-life Mitt Romney and pro-abortion President Barack Obama will be very, very close. Nonetheless measurements of certain components can surely tell us which ways the political winds are blowing.
If you look at the President’s numbers on a number of tracks —even if you are a strong supporter—it’s pretty clear that to win he must attack Mr. Romney unmercifully (AKA demonize him) AND count on two other variables: his personal popularity and a gap in enthusiasm between (more enthusiastic) Democrats and (less enthusiastic)Republicans.
On that latter issue, a CBS News/New York Times poll released today is unmitigated bad news for President Obama. Here are the operative paragraphs which come after a opening comment that a lot of people say it matters at least somewhat to them whom the candidate chooses as his vice presidential running mate:
“Meantime, three and a half months before election day, Republican enthusiasm about voting this year has shot up since Mitt Romney clinched the nomination in April, from 36 percent of Republicans saying they were more enthusiastic in March to 49 percent now.
“President Obama was helped to election in 2008 by a wave of voter enthusiasm among Democrats, however this year, Democratic enthusiasm is down a bit since March. Twenty-seven percent of Democrats said they were more enthusiastic about voting this year than they were in past elections, compared to 30 percent four months ago. And 48 percent of Democrats say their enthusiasm this year is the same as past elections, compared to 39 percent who answered the same question in March.
“Independent voters’ enthusiasm is also up with 29 percent saying they’re more enthusiastic now from 22 percent four months ago.”
The “big takeaway,” according to Ed Morrissey is
“that 49% of Republicans and 29% of independents express increased enthusiasm for this election, while only 27% of Democrats say the same thing.”
In addition, on the pivotal question of whether the country is on the right or wrong track, 64% say wrong track, up from 62 percent in May.
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