According to new poll by the Pew Research Center, more Americans are interested in Bill Clinton’s convention speech (52%) than Mitt Romney’s (44%).
The Pew Research Center poll found that only 44% of Americans are interested in Mitt Romney’s acceptance speech. Interest in Romney’s speech among Republicans (76%) is about the same as it was for previous GOP nominees in 2008 and 2000, but only 40% of Independents are interesting in what Romney will say on Thursday night.
Just 46% of Americans, and 41% of Independents are interested in Paul Ryan’s speech, and more people are interested in the Republican Party platform (50%) than they are in Romney or Ryan. In 2000, 53% were interested in watching George W. Bush’s acceptance speech. In 2008, 52% were interested in watching John McCain’s acceptance speech. Romney has generated eight points less interest than the less than charismatic McCain went into his convention with four years ago.
In contrast, 51% of those surveyed expressed interest in President Obama’s acceptance speech. One point ahead of President Obama on the interest scale is former President Bill Clinton, who looks like the most anticipated speaker at either convention. Fifty two percent of respondents said they are interested in Bill Clinton’s speech.
Clinton and Obama are in a virtual statistical tie in terms of interest, but the former president blows Mitt Romney out of the water in terms of interest. This finding highlights both the lack of interest in Romney, and the awesome drawing power of Bill Clinton.
Bill Clinton will focus a majority of interested eyes and ears on the Democratic message next Wednesday. His speech might be the most important of either convention. When Bill Clinton steps on to the stage in Charlotte and endorses Barack Obama’s handling of the economy, it will have an impact with voters.
The Republicans don’t have anyone speaking at their convention who possesses the kind of credibility on the economy that Bill Clinton has. Whatever the Republicans argue this week, Bill Clinton will knock it down next Wednesday. The problem for Mitt Romney is that most Americans will side with the persuasive and powerful ex-president.
The big question for the Republican Party is, if a candidate gets an image makeover in the forest, and a majority of people don’t care enough to watch it, does it matter?
Even more importantly, what’s going to be left of Mitt Romney after Bill Clinton and Barack Obama are done with him?
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stormkite
Aug. 27th, 2012 at 4:27 pm
Well, there’s this: Mittens has so much credibility that his acceptance speech will be “no longer operative” before the teleprompter quits glowing…. so why bother?
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SinghX
Aug. 27th, 2012 at 4:30 pm
…”if a candidate gets an image makeover in the forest, and a majority of people don’t care enough to watch it, does it matter?…”
Nope.
Bahhh, moose burgers and catchup! Not Ah-gain…
Why don’t they just shake the moth balls off the old Palin wardrobe and dress him up like herself? It would help him with the women’s vote…
Or, better yet, get Marcus Bachmann to go shopping for him…we all know he did wonders for Michelle.
Can’t we just put the lipstick on the Pit Bull from Bloomfield and call it a day…?
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Ruth
Aug. 27th, 2012 at 9:42 pm
“the Pit Bull from Bloomfield” LOL! You must be from there too….I knew the Bloomfield guys, and the Cranbrook guys – and Mitt is so typical – and NOT in a good way!
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SDJ
Aug. 29th, 2012 at 10:12 pm
Whoa – Easy there! Not even putting Romney in drag will intrest a woman enough to watch him read whatever it is they have him saying as an acceptance speech, let alone vote for him!
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Nancy
Aug. 27th, 2012 at 5:55 pm
Had the honor of meeting President Clinton in the Bahamas, post White House. The fact he was standing next to Sean Connery made no difference, Sean could have been a shrub. I can’t really explain in mere mortal words the power & energy that just flows around him, but it is awe inspiring.
A day, okay, an 82 second moment, I’ll never forget.
PS, if you paid me, & it would need to be a substantial amount, to meet Romney, I’d need to be hooked up to an intravenous line of high octane caffeine just to keep from yawning!
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Matt Dunn
Aug. 27th, 2012 at 9:42 pm
Don’t believe everything that you read. The wording of “X% of *Americans*” contrasted with “X% of Independants” is disingenuous…the actual Pew research poll numbers break out the 2:3 ratio of Republicans to Democrats in the sampling. Also, the poll asked to speak with the youngest adult member of each household…who would.probably lean more left of center. Don’t believe the liberal media…understand the facts for yourself and THEN make your informed decision.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Aug. 28th, 2012 at 6:19 am
I am not at all surprised that more people are interested in Bill Clinton. And I hope he tells everyone what has been going on with the GOP Medicare scams. The fact that the GOP platform on Medicare was leaked yesterday and shows that it will go to a voucher system needs to be spread far and wide. And bill Clinton is the person to do it because so many people trust him
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Dawn
Aug. 28th, 2012 at 9:40 am
Hence why the Republicans were desperate to create a rift between the President and Bill Clinton. They know what a huge asset Bill is for the President.
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