USA: The economy tops the list of concerns of North Carolina voters as the state gears up for the Democratic National Convention

Record ID: 590963

  • Title: USA: The economy tops the list of concerns of North Carolina voters as the state gears up for the Democratic National Convention
  • Date: 3rd September 2012
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) GAYLE BESS, OBAMA SUPPORTER, SAYING: "Definitely jobs at this point. Because so many people are out of work and it affects the whole family -- the children, no food on the table -- so jobs, I'd like to see more jobs." [REPORTER ASKING: "Do you think President Obama has done a decent job?"] "I think he has, yes. With the support of Congress he could do even more."
  • Embargoed: 18th September 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAD5I06Y0Q11J7TBWBS131H8L5X
  • Story Text: The city of Charlotte prepared on Monday (September 3) for the kick off of the Democratic National Convention which sees U.S. President Barack Obama entering an important campaign week tied with Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.
    A Reuters/Ipsos poll found on Sunday (September 2) that the two were neck-and-neck.
    Another poll conducted in North Carolina by Elon University, focused solely on North Carolinians, put likely Romney voters at 47 percent and likely Obama voters at 43 percent. The poll had a margin of error of approximately 3 percent.
    Obama is seeking to generate the same kind of enthusiasm that propelled him to the White House in 2008, a task that is much more difficult this time with Americans struggling under 8.3 percent unemployment.
    Political analyst Charlie Cook says there is "no comparison" between the 2012 race and that of four years ago.
    "There was an energy, an excitement, a passion, you know, it had become a movement. And the other thing is, given the economic situation, particularly after Lehman Brothers fell on September 15th no Republican could have won no matter what. So when I look back at 2008, the remarkable thing was Obama's victory over Hillary Clinton, not so much the victory in the general election, because it eventually got to the point where no Republican could possibly have won," Cook told Reuters.
    White House aides said on Sunday television talk shows that Obama would offer an economic path forward when he gives his acceptance speech this week -- something analysts say is crucial.
    "You know there is no secondary or tertiary issue in this election beyond the economy," Cook said.
    "For President Obama, he's has to get across that, he has to convince people that the next four years, if he's re-elected, will be better off than the last four years and obviously the country's gone through a tough time and you know, he's got to reinstitute the 'hope' part of 'hope and change'," he added.
    Obama's challenge is to show why four more years of his presidency would be better for the U.S. economy than his first term has been. His aides have struggled to answer the question as to whether Americans are better off now than they were at the start of his term.
    And on the streets of Charlotte, views were divided.
    "Well, Obama is doing a great job with healthcare so I think we all owe him a big round of applause for the great job he's doing. Some people were showing away his goals and the things that he's done for his country, but it's done in abundance, so it's paying off and I think we can reap the benefits of it real soon," said one Obama supporter, Corrie Sigle.
    Asked what issue was top of the agenda for voters, Obama supporter Gayle Bess said, "Definitely jobs at this point. Because so many people are out of work and it affects the whole family -- the children, no food on the table -- so jobs, I'd like to see more jobs."
    "The main issue that I'd like to see addressed is the difference between us and the GOP. We are a party and are concerned for the people of the middle class of this nation. We need to get the middle class back to where they were before," said Marine Fauss, a delegate from Missouri.
    Republicans used their convention last week in Tampa, Florida to play up the former private equity executive's family and personal life, but Cook says they need to do more.
    "I think for Romney, his biggest challenge is connecting with voters and getting them up to a comfort level to feel like they can trust him. It's more of a personal connection. They know that he's smart. They know that he's knowledgeable. They know he understands the economy. It's more just getting them to feel that they're comfortable with him in the Oval Office," he said.
    When North Carolinians were asked by the Elon University poll who most closely shared their values -- Obama or Romney -- the Republican candidate came out tops with 48 percent, but Obama was only 3 percent behind at 45.
    Romney enjoys more male votes in the state while Obama is attracting more female votes, according to the Elon University poll.
    North Carolinians believe Romney would do a better job handling the economy, but they say Obama would better handle foreign policy.
    But on a national level, polls show that there has been no real movement in terms of candidate perceptions on any substantive policy areas such as healthcare, or even on which candidate is better in protecting American jobs.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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