Undecided voters lean from Romney toward Obama

[DCBob]

WASHINGTON — For Mitt Romney, making a comeback in the race for president will require changing the minds of voters like Barry Hubscher, Cathleen Kimmel and Michael Gray.

All three had considered voting for the Republican nominee as recently as August, but lately they have found themselves leaning toward President Obama. Listening to them and others like them helps explain the shift in polls toward Obama since the Democratic convention and illustrates the magnitude of the task that lies before Romney as he tries to catch up in an increasingly challenging race.

In an effort to explore the sentiments behind the poll numbers as Romney approaches the first of three presidential debates, Los Angeles Times reporters over the last week interviewed four dozen voters who in mid-August had told pollsters for The Times and USC's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism that they were undecided or only weakly committed to their candidates.

<snip>

Asked an open-ended question about what news regarding Romney or Obama had stuck in their minds over the last couple of weeks, 1 in 3 spontaneously mentioned Romney's videotaped remarks about the 47% of Americans who do not pay income tax — the only incident to be so widely recalled.

more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-undecided-voters-20120930,0,4062228.story

Its remarkable how much impact that 47% comment has made on the race.

[Raven]

1. You know, it wasn't only what he said, it was

how he said it. He practically spit out the word "entitlement". There was so much distain in his voice about us and such a cozy tone when he was sharing his election strategy with the diners. I also notice that the MSM mostly quotes the "take responsibility" part of what he said and often leaves out the "care for their lives" part. I thought the "care for their lives" part was just devistating.

[DCBob]

3. yes, the tone is what made it so bad.

His true colors showed through clearly.

[Happyhippychick]

2. I think the reason it is so compelling is because it was secretly taped and it's the only time

Ive ever heard Romney sound the least bit authentic. After he loses spectacularly, the GOP will look upon it as the day his campaign died.

[DCBob]

6. The "fly on the wall" aspect surely made it more compelling.

Its like looking into his brain.

[TroyD]

4. Interesting, because the Dick Morris/GOP theory is the undecided will go to them

That's what they have been saying and counting on all along.

[DCBob]

5. If Dickless Morris said it..

then the truth is the exact opposite.

[doc03]

10. My mother's maiden name was Morris I sure hope he isn't

on my family tree.

[polichick]

7. Undecided voters are really just uninterested voters and...

...that video caught their interest like a reality show bit.

[doc03]

8. A friend of mine that is a Mormon and has been wearing a Romoney Lyan hat and had their bumper

stickers on his car and a sign in his yard, suddenly turned last week. I don't ask, I don't want to lose a friend but I suspect it was his 47%
remark. One thing I know for sure he suddenly went back to his Cowboys hat and lost his bumper sticker. This guy wasn't undecided he was a die hard Romoney
supporter.

[BeyondGeography]

9. Most of these people just want to fit in

It's socially safer to be for Obama now.

[WI_DEM]

11. I'm sorry, but anybody who claims to be undecided at this point is either an attention seeker or a

an idiot.

[Indykatie]

12. Clearly Some of The Voters Still Leaning Romney Were Not "Undecided" to Begin With n/t

[TwilightGardener]

13. Why would you vote for someone who detests half the country?

Most NORMAL people want a President that believes in the American people, and cares about them.