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What's Romney's strategy to winning key swing states?

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    Ken Blackwell on what issues are important to the voters

  • Duration 10:12
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Listen we know that that governor Romney is is out there hitting the campaign trail hard.

And he has -- obstacles to overcome in some of the swing states in in in particular so what we bring in now former Ohio secretary of state.

Ken Blackwell hello mr.

Blackwell -- -- you.

You don't I am well I am well so were what I talked about.

These swing state matchups and a pop up.

Can first come to pop up be -- graphics that we can look at some numbers here the swing state match up since President Obama vs governor Romney.

Florida you have the president of 48%.

The governor at 44%.

You're in Ohio.

Your state you've -- the president at 48%.

And then -- in governor Romney 42%.

Virginia another big -- presidents at 48%.

And the governors at 44%.

Now look the president is ahead.

And all of those three key states.

But it it's not by -- by far so tell me how is it bad to governor Romney how is it that.

He's going to -- -- swing those states his way.

Well the first thing to do this is take.

Take that the that the point that the president is not over 50% and any of those states and for an incumbent president.

That's that's problematic.

Secondly.

And three of the four.

Romney is within those them the margin of error of of -- So that's very important the third thing is that what I tend to do is take rolling averages so polls because if you stand on just one whole year.

Likely to go on the wrong direction so -- that it -- take away from the numbers she just gave me is that all four of those states are in play.

And the Romney campaign is in a pretty good position.

We don't have.

One national election.

On one given day we have fifty state elections and that's it that's very important for people to keep.

In input and perspective so.

I think that this campaign.

This election is probably going to come down to.

No more than eight states that's not to say that every vote in every other state is not important.

But there are pivotal states to once that you just mention.

You know we have Ohio Florida Virginia.

And North Carolina.

And in addition to that we have I think Colorado's gonna be interesting state this trip to take the view on.

I'm abortion in DC and as -- attended two conferences yesterday one -- about the family research council they have hundreds of pastors and the other sponsored by the -- I -- public policy center where they have pastors and public interest lawyers and what have you.

And I can tell you the president's attack or religious liberty.

Is going to be a pivotal issue.

And this campaign and in those states that I just.

Identified.

That can be.

An issue of of primary importance the economy is going to be front and center.

What a difference maker will be how the religious liberty issue.

Plays out.

So then if you see that the religious so liberties issues.

As and perhaps an advantage for governor Romney will you think -- be his biggest challenge.

When you mean -- talking about groups like the family research council.

Well his his his his his his biggest challenge.

Is it's going to be.

Making sure that people see him as a solve -- constitution -- conservative.

And that's going to be very very important with the underlying message there that you're talking about -- The underlying message there is that we need to get.

Big overreaching government out of our lives America is exceptional.

Because we put a harness on the growth in the -- world government.

And we elevate and -- and give importance to individual liberty.

This is a big government.

President at the beginning of this administration.

Newsweek ran over a cover story this.

We are all socialists now on the return of -- welfare state and and and the president has been on -- spending -- binge that to support.

The the overreach of a big federal government and I think Romney has to basically say.

That approach does not -- is growing does not have Americans working and in fact.

Did it underlies our under -- mines.

The basic foundation of this country which is one.

That is founded on the fact that there's not a government on the face of the earth.

That can give us are human rights governments can only promote and protect and do this president is on the wrong side of that equation.

OK so -- of that if in fact governor Romney makes that point that you just made here so clearly.

If he makes that point and resonates that message resonates it is that going to be enough to say what the president is doing is wrong.

The presidents -- pros approach is wrong.

-- and the governor need to say okay that's wrong but here's how I write the wrong.

-- well and I think that's what the governor governor will do he was so.

He will show how he will put America back on a path -- accelerated growth the proof is in the putting with the president.

Unemployment.

-- -- -- and at a record low and I get a jump in there we look.

We keep hearing that we get it but what America needs to hear is because everybody nobody wants to be unemployed nobody wants to be -- absolutely we agree on that but we we need to hear if your.

It beard touting governor Romney is success past successes we need to know how it's going to apply to what -- We put again.

Of -- ourselves -- good that's that's the point.

One of the ways that you begin to get the economy growing again is by making sure that you shrink.

The reach of government and he has this he has articulated.

A tax policy.

That is pro growth pro job creation and what -- basically saying this look you can go two ways.

Capitalism.

With -- failure is not capitalism.

Failure in the capitalist system drives innovation so with this.

President our president Romney would do is suit is to let the free market work again.

President Obama.

Believes in political of favoritism.

So he criticizes what he calls vulture capitalism.

But if you look at his record.

He has in fact been involved in playing political favors.

And and he's done it do.

Making sure that the referee government.

Does not on the side of an even playing field.

Put on the side of political favors a fade outs then that's that's the issue that's the contrasts.

And I think that the that the that the governor Romney campaign.

Has between now and Election Day to make that case draw that.

Draw a distinction.

Okay well listen I mean if we had -- and Obama President Obama representative I'm sure they would take.

Taking a task than what you said but we don't so we'll we'll move on.

You mentioned you can that you Revere him everywhere making your way here.

Honest thoughts or between when you told me that you revered -- -- reach council.

And there is another convention here in town in DC where you had done many pastors.

Naturally when you hear the word pastors and -- you realize that you're talking about pastors or tell me if I'm making the wrong assumption pastors of African American churches in -- right.

No familiar -- did this.

Or at both they're both -- -- -- counts so watchman on the wall conference and the Nash and know that religious freedom conference.

We have mormons and Catholics and -- Christians are Protestants of all denominations.

Across the board one of the things that.

Was driven at both conferences is that went religious liberty is under attack.

By all -- one is.

You know it's actually an attack on all right and so I think what's happening is that there's now starting to be.

A synergy and and -- unification.

Of those who who would defend religious liberty.

Okay so a guy -- wondering because.

I don't know how long you're able to hear our conversation that we've been having here today but -- were talking about governor Romney's dad knew.

Newly energized strategy to focus on the African American votes.

And so that's why I I think that's our mind -- beer.

You know so anyway listen I appreciate having you on it was great to talk to you I haven't done so I don't think but that was my pleasure I'll say -- Always yes definitely he looks so tell me this just before you go it's Memorial Day weekend -- -- we of course.

With the mom with a mind of all the great work that our men and women have -- -- continued do.

For our great country and certainly not that put aside we also know that it kicks off summer so people are.

Having picnics it -- -- -- and hanging out with family what are you doing this weekend.

Well I'm going to be with my -- -- well 44 years been on the road and so.

We will we we will have a a great time together caught our kids than.

And and and and celebrate.

We are family of veterans.

We know that that freedom is not free and that there are folks who have paid the ultimate price.

And we will celebrate them celebrate American exceptional doesn't.

And -- one another well stated mr.

Blackwell tell -- -- -- -- and all right thank you very much I was Ken Blackwell everybody former Ohio secretary of.

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