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Obama campaign dodges 'better off' question

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    Romney campaign adviser Eric Ferhnstrom weighs in

  • Duration 6:48
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So now and a battle for the critical undecided voter Democrats get their best shot this week.

Three days in Charlotte but there is one question likely will not here in Charlotte for ABC's this week White House senior advisor David -- Had this to -- Can the president argue unequivocally that Americans are better off today than they were four years ago.

-- George I think the American people understand that we.

Got into.

Terrible economic situation a recession.

Only that and the Great Depression -- and the country's ever seem like it.

So they know we have a deep hole so it's okay you know a year ago the president told me I don't think Americans are better off -- they were four years ago you still can't say yes.

Well we've clearly improve George from the depths of the recession we were losing -- 100000 jobs a month.

We're now gaining the unemployment rate was around ten.

-- it's come down.

So now more on that we heard from the Obama team thirty minutes ago time -- from the Romney team Eric burns from the senior riser.

-- visor rather for Mitt Romney for president boss American morning to you and welcome back to our program.

Thank you bill what did you make you the answer.

Locked -- far more interesting was this morning they had been a complete turnaround and they were saying absolutely things are better look I think this Democratic Convention could represent.

The beginning of a whole new John -- in television the unreality show things are not better off saying that things are better off.

It's an insult to the 23 million American -- you out of work.

Or underemployed let's just look at the facts the unemployment rate is higher it went from seven point 8% when Obama took office to eight point 3% today.

Gas prices have doubled.

Incomes have declined on average by about 4000 dollars.

Per household look they have some explaining to do I think the biggest challenge for President Obama at this convention is to explained why it is.

That he didn't do what he said he -- -- -- he said shortly after taking office that if he didn't have this economy turned around he was going to be a one term president.

And that's true he will be a -- -- The critical question for Democrats as they returned serve on this.

Was handed out by David Axelrod on Sunday when he -- governor Romney set for three days they did not offer a plausible alternative.

Reflecting on the convention in Tampa -- -- told Martha 45 minutes ago what are they offering referred to you when your team.

-- -- -- -- -- -- Well look we had a great convention -- diverse a group of speakers.

All of them.

Have a deep faith in the American free enterprise system many of them -- that children.

Of immigrant parents -- build businesses on their round.

With their own hands as far as Mitt Romney goes we were very pleased with his speech.

He did the three things he he had to -- Which was to lay out his vision for a better future for America to describe the failures of the last four years of the Obama presidency.

And to talk a little bit about himself and in what motivates him.

And we feel that we got a big push coming out of that convention.

And we'll see what happens though with the Democrats but I suspect you're gonna hear a lot of excuses.

Alibis in scapegoats.

The cover up the failures of the Obama presidency.

What you also likely here are the comments of David -- and David Axelrod.

Saying that we've clearly improved from the depths of the recession.

-- that they're gonna paint a picture that things are getting better.

That might not be good enough just yet but were headed in the right direction how do you counter that.

-- the way we -- that is by asking middle class America to just look around.

Look around at your own experience look at the experience of your neighbors do you feel that things are better -- I think the only folks in America.

Who believe that we're doing better today than we were doing for years ago.

Our live at the Obama White House and I think people can fairly question there.

Objectivity.

Look you know there's no amount of loss or slick.

Convention stage it.

That can cover up the fact.

That this is the weakest recovery since the Great Depression you know they used to -- yet.

A country and western singer called Johnny Paycheck if he was still around -- at the changes name to -- who.

Because that's what he's using these days that's a clever turn of phrase.

But what bedlam bowl -- was out what what the Republicans want to do is offer I think the -- was five trillion dollars in tax cuts for the wealthy.

I think it's a higher number than ever just -- base and their argument and and the whole idea about Medicare you're gonna hear about this this week about.

That that the Romney Ryan team supports vouchers.

What will what is the counter argument when you hear that coming out of Charlotte.

While the governor in.

His convention speech last Thursday.

I described -- I've steps that he would take to create twelve million new jobs by the end of his first term in office.

And that involves more energy development.

It involves making our education system stronger.

It involves cutting the deficit.

It involves encouraging.

Our small businesses.

If we can do those things.

Then we'll unleash the power of the free enterprise system look I think Obama's got a problem I think his team has a problem.

-- made a political.

Calculation.

That they have to say that things are better today than they were four years ago in doing that.

They -- siding with a 30%.

Of Americans who believe we're on the right track.

But by doing it by by siding with them they risk alienating the majority of people in this country who know from their own experience.

That things are not there.

That you think that's their biggest risk.

-- well if that's what this economy comes down to bill I'm sorry this election.

Are you better off than you were four years ago of course they have to make a political statement and say that we are better off.

But again -- class America knows that that they're hurting.

-- food prices are high utility costs the high.

And an energy -- -- These things cannot be just swept under the rug.

Paul Ryan is here -- North Carolina will we see Mitt Romney at all this week publicly.

Well the governor's going to be doing some debate preparation we have three -- usually in October with.

With the president he may pop out for an appearance but he's going to be down focusing on on -- debate in October.

We will followed by the day by the hour oftentimes Eric thank you bear -- from out of Boston today with -- Romney can thank you for your time.

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