# The Romney Tapes - thoughts as to how they'll affect the election? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 17, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007 "2012-09-17T21:14:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 24
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/461 "2012-09-25T14:04:10Z")
My wife isn’t very political but she gets upset whenever Romney is on television and mutters “He better not win”. She comes from a family of extreme social conservatives and for her to cast a vote for Obama is mind-blowing for me. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/462 "2012-09-26T14:18:20Z")
Well, well, well… looks like the tapes are having an effect after all… [First Thoughts: The impact of 47 percent](http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/26/14110895-first-thoughts-the-impact-of-47-percent?lite) > [@](#): > > Want to know the impact that the video of Mitt Romney’s comments on the “47%” have had in this presidential contest? We have two fresh pieces of evidence. The first are brand-new \*\*New York Times/CBS/Quinnipiac surveys – conducted right after the release of the video – showing Obama leading Romney by nine points among likely voters in Florida (53%-44%), 10 points in Ohio (53%-43%), and 12 in Pennsylvania (54%-42%). \*\*These are margins we haven’t seen before. The second (and perhaps more telling) piece of evidence is Romney’s new 60-second TV ad, his first of the general election where he looks to the camera. “President Obama and I both care about poor and middle-class families,” Romney says as the camera zooms in on him. “The difference is my policies will make things better for them. We shouldn’t measure compassion by how many people are on welfare. We should measure compassion by how many people are able to get off welfare and get a good paying job.” Folks, this is an admission that the “47%” remarks – and the Obama camp’s new TV ads on them – have done real damage. Realize: Candidate-to-camera ads are typically when all else is failing and the bonds of trust with the voters are fraying. Even Obama had to do it in late July, after the welfare hits and the “You didn’t build that” attack. There’s more in the article that’s worth reading, especially the paragraph following the above quote, but I didn’t want to run afoul of board/fair use rules. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/463 "2012-09-26T15:26:12Z")
Wow. Yes, it’s turned out that unlike most of the the other foot-in-mouth incidents this campaign, this one hurt Romney a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/464 "2012-09-26T18:00:47Z")
[Romneybot has received some new programming](http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/romney-ohio-heart-aches-struggling-americans-153739193--election.html). The speech memory now includes comments about his hydraulics being stressed by the observed phenomena of the American middle class experience. In human terms, his “heart aches”. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/465 "2012-09-26T18:41:02Z")
The Quiinnipac surveys have now assigned a 10-point lead to Obama in Ohio, and a 9-point lead in Florida. Those are staggering claims, almost hard to believe. If in fact Obama is leading by 9-10 points in Ohio and Florida, Romney has suffered a nationwide meltdown and the election is over, barring a dead girl/live boy. Romney absolutely cannot win the election without Florida; there is just no electoral map that would happen in this universe that would yield 270 EVs for him if he loses Florida. Well, actually, if he loses Ohio by 10 he’ll get creamed anyway; he cannot lose a slightly Republican state by ten points and not be destroyed in every other battleground. I’d have to see other polls, esp. national polls, that support such a gigantic lead emerging before I’d assume these polls are accurate. They’re astoundingly hard to swallow. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/466 "2012-09-26T18:46:33Z")
Sliver had Obama back up to 79.7 which is nearly to the post-convention bounce peak of IIRC just over 81. Barring a colossal debate fuck up by Obama, this thing should be done. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/467 "2012-09-26T18:59:46Z")
Can someone start a “Put a fork in Romney, he’s done” thread? Or is that too 2008? ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/468 "2012-09-26T19:01:15Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > [Romneybot has received some new programming](http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/romney-ohio-heart-aches-struggling-americans-153739193--election.html). Yes, brilliant work on the part of the Romneybot 9000 development team. They replaced the original error message: “Exception: Empathy simulation model failed for 47% of the sample population.” with this very human-like phrase: “my heart aches” This emergency service patch could give the Romneybot a big boost in likeability. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/469 "2012-09-26T19:12:05Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Can someone start a “Put a fork in Romney, he’s done” thread? Or is that too 2008? Well, now that [Gallup](http://www.gallup.com/home.aspx) has a 6-point lead for Obama, when previously it was the poll Conservatives used to say the race was close, this might not be a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/470 "2012-09-26T19:40:34Z")
If something does not happen soon to turn this around, Romney is going to lose Utah next. Perhaps do you think there is a little pressure on Romney to turn in a fantastic debate performance? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/471 "2012-09-26T19:55:35Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Perhaps do you think there is a little pressure on Romney to turn in a fantastic debate performance? Romney’s campaign is in a weird position now: the candidates usually try to lower expectations before the debates (to an absurd and insincere degree), but now the campaign is doing that _and_ trying to reassure panicked supporters that it’s no big deal that he’s losing ground because he has the debates coming up and he can turn things around with good debates. As I’ve said in a couple of threads, based on some recent commentary I get the sense that the debates don’t generally change the race. If you like a candidate, you’ll probably think he did and well and if you don’t, you won’t. You probably won’t see a big shift in the polls unless someone throws a drink at the moderator. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/472 "2012-09-26T20:05:08Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > You probably won’t see a big shift in the polls unless someone throws a drink at the moderator. Even then, if Romney does it, it will be because he’s a decisive strong personality who does not cotton on to rude questions from the mainstream media! Here’s my prediction for post-debate comments: \: Well, Governor Romney clearly won that debate handily. He explained his positions very well, and seemed to really connect on a person level. He came up with some positive suggestions and really appeared statesmanlike. \: Actually, President Obama simply won that debate hands down. He did not flinch at the tough questions on the economy, and he clearly came out on top with regard to the middle east and foriegn relations. This debate was his to lose, and he ended up winning it. \: Well, it looks like the pundits are divided again on who won this debate. One thing is certain - it’s only XX days to go until the election, and both parties will be ramping up their messages to the small number of undecided voters. It’s really anyone’s game at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/473 "2012-09-26T20:10:37Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Perhaps do you think there is a little pressure on Romney to turn in a fantastic debate performance? Pheww! Good thing Romney is good at thinking on his feet in high stress situations! ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/474 "2012-09-26T20:15:09Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Well, now that [Gallup](http://www.gallup.com/home.aspx) has a 6-point lead for Obama, when previously it was the poll Conservatives used to say the race was close, this might not be a bad idea. And the widening spread in Gallup’s numbers just happen to be the first seven days since the “47% video” broke out. Pretty strong correlation there to show that the comments are really hurting Romney. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/475 "2012-09-26T20:44:43Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Here’s my prediction for post-debate comments: Really going out on a limb there, aren’t you? 😉 Never afraid to take a bold, controversial stand; that’s our **EP**. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/476 "2012-09-26T20:48:13Z")
This is rather embarrassing for Romney… [Joe Scarborough hangs head in shame after watching Romney’s lame fire-up-the-crowd performance yesterday](http://www.businessinsider.com/joe-scarborough-mitt-romney-crowd-sweet-jesus-2012-9). > [@](#): > > “Oh, sweet Jesus,” Scarborough said. > “Sadly, I say this about Mitt Romney: He’s a great man. He’s a great father. He’s a great husband. He’s a great businessman. He’s a great turnaround guy,” Scarborough continued. > > “He’s just a horrible politician. He’s one of the worst.” Video at bottom of article. The clip is early in the piece, so just watch until you get bored. Everybody on the panel is just so _embarrassed_ for Romney. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/477 "2012-09-26T21:04:40Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Really going out on a limb there, aren’t you? 😉 > Never afraid to take a bold, controversial stand; that’s our **EP**. Just to mix it up and confuse everyone, here’s a prediction from the [What will happen in Obama’s 2nd term thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15530611&postcount=3) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/478 "2012-09-26T21:44:44Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Everybody on the panel is just so _embarrassed_ for Romney. Why is he such a bad politician now and yet he was elected governor of Massachusetts? I mean, the guy you see on TV now couldn’t be elected governor of his own shitter. It’s a serious question; the guy wasn’t a drool factory before, and enjoyed electoral success to an executive branch post. What the hell’s going on? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/479 "2012-09-26T21:53:05Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Why is he such a bad politician now and yet he was elected governor of Massachusetts? I mean, the guy you see on TV now couldn’t be elected governor of his own shitter. It’s a serious question; the guy wasn’t a drool factory before, and enjoyed electoral success to an executive branch post. What the hell’s going on? Mainstage paralysis? Over handled? Brain tumor? ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/480 "2012-09-26T21:55:03Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Why is he such a bad politician now and yet he was elected governor of Massachusetts? I mean, the guy you see on TV now couldn’t be elected governor of his own shitter. It’s a serious question; the guy wasn’t a drool factory before, and enjoyed electoral success to an executive branch post. What the hell’s going on? The chameleon jumped onto a plaid couch. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007.md?page=25)