conventions

Today we will be short. Both conventions are now over and you got two differing views of where we are as a nation. In the Republican convention it was we are in trouble, there are no jobs, the economy is not growing, the debt is overwhelming us and we need new direction.

In the Democratic convention it was not quite “Morning In America” but the dawn is coming over the horizon. It was look at all we did and the jobs we saved. Give us four more years and all will be well. Their message was we saved you from Bush’s failed presidency, trust us the next four years.

Now the campaign settles into a 60 day period of intense activity. President Obama enters clearly ahead with the electoral votes on his side. When you have Califorina and New York uncompetitve you enter the race with 84 of the 270 electoral votes needed. Add Illinois with its 20 and the President has 104 locked in from just three states. Romney will likely win at least half the states but it’s electoral votes that matter. He has a hard road to get there.

So the campaign comes down to the three Presidential and one VP debate. The first debate will be the most watched event yet of the campaign and will go a long way to determining competitiveness. In most years a challenger needs only to stand next the President and hold their own to gain. The reason is people see them do that and know they can handle the role. Romney may need to do a little more than that. He has to explain his program.

Every thing between now and then will be argued. Today the new employment numbers were announced. Both sides will play on them. Democrats will tout the drop to 8.1% the unemployment per cent. Republicans will point out only 96,000 jobs were created and the only reason the number dropped out is hundreds of thousands have dropped out of the work force. Both will have their supporters backing them. One argument no one can deny is that in a booming economy we would be creating 200,000+ jobs a month.

The economy will be the big issue and foreign policy will take a back seat. Jobs will be front and center. Taxes, Medicare and Healthcare overall will be the big three you will hear about.

We’ll keep you updated and address the issues you asked in the weeks ahead. They include explaining, Trickle Down, GNP and Fair Share.

YOUR CHOICE, OUR FUTURE