The Scarlet Letter
Campaign Insider
Obama camp works to pump up youth vote at DNC
by Dave Nyczepir / Sep 04 2012
CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Young voters are a key piece of the Obama campaign’s organizing efforts at this year’s Democratic National Convention, as the president works to recapture the energy of his 2008 campaign.
During the party’s gathering in Charlotte, Obama organizers are looking for ways to engage with the president’s backers in North Carolina and to effectively organize local troops on the ground. While the halls of the Charlotte Convention Center buzz with DNC delegates
Obama pollster: N.H. law 'absurd'
by Shane D'Aprile / Sep 04 2012
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Joel Benenson, lead pollster for President Obama’s reelection campaign, says thanks to New Hampshire’s so-called “push poll” law, the campaign is avoiding message testing in the contested state.
“We poll without any messaging because their law is ridiculous,” Benenson tells C&E. “The law is absurd. They don’t even know what a push poll is.”
The law in question, which has resulted in thousands of dollars in fines levied
Credentials are the currency that matters
by Michael Moschella / Sep 03 2012
It’s 1am, an older woman is angrily telling younger people to be quiet so she can hear Moby’s acoustic performance for just 100 people, Obama girl is having her picture taken with my buddy, The Daily Show’s John Oliver is standing next to me, and someone tells me Chevy Chase just arrived.
This is the image I have of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in addition to, of course, the whole Obama speech
Pollsters: Don't expect big convention bounce
by Dave Nyczepir & Shane D'Aprile / Aug 31 2012
Thanks in part to heavy campaign ad spending, a saturation of political coverage, and the rise of social media, pollsters say neither party should expect a major bump in the polls following their national conventions.
According to Gallup, presidential candidates can typically expect around a five percentage point increase in preference among registered voters. In the recent past, that bump has been as high as 16 percent (Bill Clinton in 1992).
Mitt's message: Obama hasn't delivered
by Dave Nyczepir & Shane D'Aprile / Aug 31 2012
TAMPA, Fla.—Telling Americans “the time has come to turn the page,” Mitt Romney accepted the Republican presidential nomination Thursday night, calling President Obama’s tenure a failure of leadership the country can’t afford to extend.
Echoing running mate Paul Ryan’s Obama critique from Wednesday night, Romney recalled the president’s 2008 campaign of hope and change—promises Romney said have gone unfulfilled.
“You know there’s something wrong with the kind of job he’s done
Ryan energizes convention with stinging Obama critique
by Dave Nyczepir / Aug 30 2012
TAMPA, Fla.—Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan set the stage for Mitt Romney with a lively speech Wednesday night that ripped into President Obama and generated sustained roars of approval from the convention crowd.
Ryan’s message juxtaposed the euphoria of Obama’s 2008 campaign with the concern surrounding the current state of the economy. Ryan touted Romney’s character, while painting Obama’s record as one of failed leadership.
“The issue is not the economy that
What Romney can do to connect
by Gary Genard / Aug 30 2012
Mitt Romney is an energized man—and not only because he’ll be accepting his party’s nomination for president tonight. Romney’s speaking abilities steadily improved throughout the long Republican primary season. But his choice of Paul Ryan as his running mate seems to have jolted Romney awake and given him a more accessible, believable and slightly more exciting speaking persona.
In the nick of time too, as far as Thursday’s all-important acceptance speech is concerned.
Isaac hasn't dampened GOP convention
by Dave Nyczepir / Aug 30 2012
TAMPA, Fla.—Mention of Hurricane Isaac, which is still drenching the Gulf Coast, has been limited at the GOP’s national convention this week, but Gulf state delegates in attendance seem just fine with that.
On Tuesday night, Ann Romney opened her speech with a reference to the storm, asking the crowd to pray that those in its path remain safe. The first reference to Isaac Wednesday night came from Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.),
CTIA releases guidelines on text donations
by Dave Nyczepir / Aug 29 2012
CTIA, the wireless industry trade group, released guidelines Wednesday for federal candidates looking to accept political donations through text messages.
The “Guidelines for Federal Political Campaign Contributions via Wireless Carrier’s Bill” summarize recent advisory opinions from the Federal Election Commission that identify when text-to-donate is permissible for political committees. They also recommend “best practices” for wireless carriers to ensure donor eligibility and contribution limits, and to maintain proper records when text-to-donate services are
Ann Romney steals show from keynoter Christie
by Dave Nyczepir / Aug 29 2012
TAMPA, Fla.—Ann Romney energized delegates on the first night of the Republican National Convention Tuesday, outshining New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, the convention’s keynote speaker.
Romney stepped on stage to a chant of “We love you Ann.”
“Tonight, I want to talk to you about love,” she said, launching into an appeal to women that repeatedly referenced the sagging economy. The daughter of a Welsh coal miner, Romney told the story of
Paul supporters disrupt rules vote ahead of Romney roll call
by Dave Nyczepir / Aug 28 2012
TAMPA, Fla.—Backers of Rep. Ron Paul made themselves heard on the convention floor Tuesday, booing and shouting in anger as party officials moved to pass new delegate rules governing future Republican primary contests.
The ruckus on the floor came just ahead of the roll call vote that officially nominated Mitt Romney.
As the Convention’s permanent chairman, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), declared the new rules passed despite loud objections from Paul supporters
Ron Paul backers pose challenge for GOP
by Dave Nyczepir / Aug 28 2012
TAMPA, Fla.—Their numbers may be relatively small this week, but little seems to dampen the enthusiasm of retiring Rep. Ron Paul’s fervent supporters.
In his pinstripe suit and tie, John Laurie—a voting delegate from Arizona, fulltime student and firefighter—stood out from the other Paul backers protesting in downtown Tampa on Monday. To Laurie, the Romney campaign is working too hard to marginalize delegates aligned with Paul, many of whom have integrated themselves
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