New Lows Among Conservatives Mark Romney’s Popularity Problem

By Gary Langer

Mitt Romney has fallen to a new low in personal favorability among strong conservatives in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll, as his persistent problems in this core GOP group now threaten his fortunes in today’s crucial Michigan primary.

Nationally just 38 percent of Americans who identify themselves as “very” conservative hold a favorable opinion of Romney, down 14 points from last week to the fewest in ABC/Post polls in this election cycle. Far more in this group, 60 percent, express a positive view of Rick Santorum.


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Among customarily swing-voting independents, just 32 percent see Santorum favorably, 29 percent Romney, similar ratings that indicate the challenges either may face in the general election. Romney’s underwater among independents – 44 percent see him unfavorably. Santorum manages a split decision, with more undecided.

OBAMA – Almost no one’s undecided on Barack Obama: He also comes in at a split decision among independents, with a 49-48 percent favorable-unfavorable rating. But Obama soars among Democrats – 83 percent see him favorably – in a way that neither Romney nor Santorum does in their own party, which clearly has yet to coalesce around its choice for November.

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http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/02/new-lows-among-conservatives-mark-romneys-popularity-problem/

Romney's subtle shot at the GOP base

By Steve Benen

Mitt Romney is willing to say and do a lot of distasteful things to pander to Republican voters, but lighting his hair on fire apparently isn't on the table.



At a rare campaign press conference this morning, a reporter asked Romney about his difficulties in generating excitement among GOP voters. The candidate replied, "It's very easy to excite the base with incendiary comments. We've seen throughout the campaign, if you're willing to say really outrageous things that are accusative, attacking of President Obama, that you're going to jump up in the polls. You know, I'm not willing to light my hair on fire to try and get support."

It struck me as an odd thing to say. The not-so-subtle implication is that Republicans are an excitable bunch, easily manipulated by rabble-rousers and extremist rhetoric.

That's not an unreasonable assessment of the GOP base, but it's unusual for leading Republican presidential candidates to characterize his own party's base as impressionable rubes.

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http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/28/10529684-romneys-subtle-shot-at-the-gop-base