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Romney likely to sacrifice poll boost as Isaac steals convention spotlight Romney likely to sacrifice poll boost as Isaac steals convention spotlight
(10 days later)
Mitt Romney's campaign team has downplayed the Republican presidential challenger's chances of achieving a vital poll bounce from the party's convention, blaming the havoc caused by hurricane Isaac.Mitt Romney's campaign team has downplayed the Republican presidential challenger's chances of achieving a vital poll bounce from the party's convention, blaming the havoc caused by hurricane Isaac.
As Romney flew into Tampa, Florida, two days early in an attempt to kickstart the sputtering convention into life, his senior campaign strategist Stuart Stevens moved to lower expectations that the event would lead to a poll boost. "All bets are off," he told reporters on the plane from Boston.As Romney flew into Tampa, Florida, two days early in an attempt to kickstart the sputtering convention into life, his senior campaign strategist Stuart Stevens moved to lower expectations that the event would lead to a poll boost. "All bets are off," he told reporters on the plane from Boston.
Only two weeks ago, Romney officials had confidently predicted a poll bounce of at least 5% and possibly as high as 11%.Only two weeks ago, Romney officials had confidently predicted a poll bounce of at least 5% and possibly as high as 11%.
Romney, neck-and-neck in the national polls with Barack Obama, had been looking for a large jump in the polls as a result of primetime television coverage of the convention, which finally opened Tuesday after the first day was cancelled amid warnings that Isaac was heading for Tampa.Romney, neck-and-neck in the national polls with Barack Obama, had been looking for a large jump in the polls as a result of primetime television coverage of the convention, which finally opened Tuesday after the first day was cancelled amid warnings that Isaac was heading for Tampa.
Romney had not been planning to arrive until Thursday when he is scheduled to deliver a primetime television speech that is expected to attract an audience of 30 million or more. But he is now competing against television coverage of Isaac, due to hit the Louisiana coast in the early hours of Wednesday.Romney had not been planning to arrive until Thursday when he is scheduled to deliver a primetime television speech that is expected to attract an audience of 30 million or more. But he is now competing against television coverage of Isaac, due to hit the Louisiana coast in the early hours of Wednesday.
New Orleans, which was hit by hurricane Katrina exactly seven years ago with the loss of 1,800 lives, is in the storm's path, leaving GOP strategists fearing what they term "split screen" media coverage, one showing disaster and the other Republicans cheering and celebrating in Tampa.New Orleans, which was hit by hurricane Katrina exactly seven years ago with the loss of 1,800 lives, is in the storm's path, leaving GOP strategists fearing what they term "split screen" media coverage, one showing disaster and the other Republicans cheering and celebrating in Tampa.
Isaac has completely disrupted Republican election planning. The Romney team needed a substantial poll bounce this week not least because next week it will be the turn of the Democratic party to secure primetime television, at their convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.Isaac has completely disrupted Republican election planning. The Romney team needed a substantial poll bounce this week not least because next week it will be the turn of the Democratic party to secure primetime television, at their convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.
At the very minimum, the Romney team had hoped to have established a lead that would cancel out Obama's bounce next week.At the very minimum, the Romney team had hoped to have established a lead that would cancel out Obama's bounce next week.
Stevens said he could not predict what will happen in the polls now. "I have no idea. Of course, this convention is different because of the hurricane. The conventions are different now. They're later now. We're having back-to-back conventions," he said.Stevens said he could not predict what will happen in the polls now. "I have no idea. Of course, this convention is different because of the hurricane. The conventions are different now. They're later now. We're having back-to-back conventions," he said.
The Obama campaign spent $120m in advertising over the summer, mainly in the swing states, seeking to define Romney as a rich, elitist candidate who had made his fortune off the backs of sacked workers.The Obama campaign spent $120m in advertising over the summer, mainly in the swing states, seeking to define Romney as a rich, elitist candidate who had made his fortune off the backs of sacked workers.
Although he virtually tied with Romney in the national polls, the Democratic ad campaign appears to have paid off, giving Obama poll leads over Romney in all but two of about 10 swing states. This was to have been Romney's big week, his opportunity to regain lost ground.Although he virtually tied with Romney in the national polls, the Democratic ad campaign appears to have paid off, giving Obama poll leads over Romney in all but two of about 10 swing states. This was to have been Romney's big week, his opportunity to regain lost ground.
The main business of the day Tuesday was for the convention to formally adopt Romney as the party's presidential nominee. Although he won the primaries and caucuses against other Republican challengers months ago, he is not legally the challenger to Obama until chosen by a roll-call of delegates at the convention.The main business of the day Tuesday was for the convention to formally adopt Romney as the party's presidential nominee. Although he won the primaries and caucuses against other Republican challengers months ago, he is not legally the challenger to Obama until chosen by a roll-call of delegates at the convention.
Once chosen, he can unleash the millions of dollars he has been accumulating for the campaign, hoping to outspend Obama two-to-one in ads over the fall.Once chosen, he can unleash the millions of dollars he has been accumulating for the campaign, hoping to outspend Obama two-to-one in ads over the fall.
That plan would have to be revised if there was substantial damage and loss of life along the Louisiana coast.That plan would have to be revised if there was substantial damage and loss of life along the Louisiana coast.
Party officials expressed cautious optimism that the convention will be held without interruption, albeit with a revised schedule that sees some of the speakers who had had slots on Monday being crammed in later in the week.Party officials expressed cautious optimism that the convention will be held without interruption, albeit with a revised schedule that sees some of the speakers who had had slots on Monday being crammed in later in the week.
Russ Schriefer, the convention organiser, said: "We are at full steam ahead with our Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday schedule."Russ Schriefer, the convention organiser, said: "We are at full steam ahead with our Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday schedule."
Some delegates who were out partying on Monday evening expressed hope that Romney and other speakers at the convention will spend less time attacking on Obama and saying more about what policies Romney would implement as president.Some delegates who were out partying on Monday evening expressed hope that Romney and other speakers at the convention will spend less time attacking on Obama and saying more about what policies Romney would implement as president.
Ann Romney was given the primetime slot on Tuesday evening, with the brief of humanising her husband, filling in personal details about a politician so often seen as detached, an image Republicans hope he can help discard this week.Ann Romney was given the primetime slot on Tuesday evening, with the brief of humanising her husband, filling in personal details about a politician so often seen as detached, an image Republicans hope he can help discard this week.
Part of her task is also to try to increase her husband's appeal among women voters, among whom Obama enjoys a big poll lead.Part of her task is also to try to increase her husband's appeal among women voters, among whom Obama enjoys a big poll lead.
In a CBS interview on Tuesday morning, she spoke about a miscarriage she suffered in her 40s. Her husband, usually reticent about revealing details of his personal life, appeared taken aback with her openness.In a CBS interview on Tuesday morning, she spoke about a miscarriage she suffered in her 40s. Her husband, usually reticent about revealing details of his personal life, appeared taken aback with her openness.
She said her son Craig had been devastated when told she was going to lose the baby.She said her son Craig had been devastated when told she was going to lose the baby.
"I was home by the time [Craig] got home from school that afternoon. And he walked in the door, and he was about 10, 11 years old. And he fell on the floor and just burst into tears. And the poor little kid had been at school all day long holding this sorrow inside of him. And having no one to speak to, no one to comfort him, no one to explain what was going on," she said."I was home by the time [Craig] got home from school that afternoon. And he walked in the door, and he was about 10, 11 years old. And he fell on the floor and just burst into tears. And the poor little kid had been at school all day long holding this sorrow inside of him. And having no one to speak to, no one to comfort him, no one to explain what was going on," she said.
Her husband said he had not heard the story about their son's reaction before. "I hadn't heard the story about Craig coming home from school that day and being so devastated," said the presumptive GOP nominee. "I'm not surprised. He's a very tender heart and a wonderful father today himself."Her husband said he had not heard the story about their son's reaction before. "I hadn't heard the story about Craig coming home from school that day and being so devastated," said the presumptive GOP nominee. "I'm not surprised. He's a very tender heart and a wonderful father today himself."
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