(Politico). After two terrible elections when independent voters turned away from the GOP and the party lost control of the White House and the Senate, Republicans finally have a little spring back in their step thanks to a health care debate that has done more to cool off Obama-mania and reignite the conservative base than even most of its leaders had hoped.
"Republicans have quickly recovered their voice," Rep. Mark Kirk, whose Senate campaign in Illinois has many Republicans eyeing a pickup, told POLITICO.
Kirk joined party leaders here this week at the second annual GOPAC conference, where they worked with state legislators to develop a unified GOP strategy and message on heath care. The timing of the conference could hardly have proven better for the group, as the backlash to Democrats' health care plans has enthusiasm in Republican ranks at its high water mark of President Barack Obama's 6 ½ months in office.
The president's approval ratings have seemingly been in free fall this summer, hitting new lows nearly every week. In addition, a USA Today/Gallup poll released last week shows that independent voters are more than twice as likely to sympathize with town hall protesters as they are to be turned off by them.
"The issue mix right now could not be better for us, with the public worried about big spending, high taxes and big government. If ever there was a mixture of issues that could benefit Republicans it would be that, just like in 2008 we probably had the worst issue mix we could have ever had," GOPAC chairman and longtime GOP insider Frank Donatelli said in an interview.
"For the first time in six years, the level of enthusiasm and intensity among our party members is higher than the other side, and you cannot overestimate how important that is," Donatelli said. "Independents are lining up with us and not Democrats, and that's a sea change."
The conference's two top speakers, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Minnesota GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty, spoke optimistically of a Republican rebound pegged to an overreach by the President and Democrats in Congress.
"It appears that President Obama is making great progress on climate change, he is changing the political climate in the country back to Republican," Pawlenty said in his speech to the group.
In his speech, Pawlenty pointed to the Republican candidates' strong performances thus far in this year's two bellwether gubernatorial elections as proof that the heath care debate had revived the party's fortunes.
“We already are seeing the Republican resurgence in this country," he said, "but it is going to be affirmed and we are going to get great momentum from the victories we’re going to have in New Jersey and Virginia this fall.”
Donatelli, who seconded that prediction, also said that Republicans would pick up seats in both state houses.
"If we're deemed to be the alternative to a party that seems to be failing, that's a first step. But it's up to us to prove more than that. We have to keep coming up with some solutions that people will find credible, not just bashing Obama," said Donatelli. "The intensity is on our side for the first time since probably 2004. But you know you have got to crawl before you walk, and walk before you run."
"Republicans have quickly recovered their voice," Rep. Mark Kirk, whose Senate campaign in Illinois has many Republicans eyeing a pickup, told POLITICO.
Kirk joined party leaders here this week at the second annual GOPAC conference, where they worked with state legislators to develop a unified GOP strategy and message on heath care. The timing of the conference could hardly have proven better for the group, as the backlash to Democrats' health care plans has enthusiasm in Republican ranks at its high water mark of President Barack Obama's 6 ½ months in office.
The president's approval ratings have seemingly been in free fall this summer, hitting new lows nearly every week. In addition, a USA Today/Gallup poll released last week shows that independent voters are more than twice as likely to sympathize with town hall protesters as they are to be turned off by them.
"The issue mix right now could not be better for us, with the public worried about big spending, high taxes and big government. If ever there was a mixture of issues that could benefit Republicans it would be that, just like in 2008 we probably had the worst issue mix we could have ever had," GOPAC chairman and longtime GOP insider Frank Donatelli said in an interview.
"For the first time in six years, the level of enthusiasm and intensity among our party members is higher than the other side, and you cannot overestimate how important that is," Donatelli said. "Independents are lining up with us and not Democrats, and that's a sea change."
The conference's two top speakers, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Minnesota GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty, spoke optimistically of a Republican rebound pegged to an overreach by the President and Democrats in Congress.
"It appears that President Obama is making great progress on climate change, he is changing the political climate in the country back to Republican," Pawlenty said in his speech to the group.
In his speech, Pawlenty pointed to the Republican candidates' strong performances thus far in this year's two bellwether gubernatorial elections as proof that the heath care debate had revived the party's fortunes.
“We already are seeing the Republican resurgence in this country," he said, "but it is going to be affirmed and we are going to get great momentum from the victories we’re going to have in New Jersey and Virginia this fall.”
Donatelli, who seconded that prediction, also said that Republicans would pick up seats in both state houses.
"If we're deemed to be the alternative to a party that seems to be failing, that's a first step. But it's up to us to prove more than that. We have to keep coming up with some solutions that people will find credible, not just bashing Obama," said Donatelli. "The intensity is on our side for the first time since probably 2004. But you know you have got to crawl before you walk, and walk before you run."
1 comment:
We have to find some solutions!!
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