Why The Numbers Don’t Add Up For Romney and What To Do

I’m a math guy, you know the type that finds genuine interest in analytics, metrics, and statistics, and something just doesn’t add up for Governor Romney. Regrettably for me but realistically the answer may not lie within the numbers but within the words, the Governor’s words or the lack thereof.

Noting that in every poll taken for the last six months, the number one issue with voters is the economy, let’s look at a few numbers and then discuss why Romney’s words may be why the numbers don’t add up.

From a recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal Survey, the direction of the country.

From a recent USA TODAY/Gallup Poll, who do you trust more to handle the economy.

From the same NBC News/Wall Street Journal Survey, Obama’s approval rating.

From Real Clear Politics, the most recent favorability numbers for Obama and Romney.

So what do the numbers say? Honestly it’s hard to say because they don’t add up. 60% of voters believe the country is headed in the wrong direction and 63% say Gov. Romney would do better handling the economy. Yet Obama’s approval rating, while under 50% which can be problematic for an incumbent, is at 49% and Obama has a +3% favorability rating versus Romney’s tie.

With 60% of the country displeased with the direction Obama is taking us in and more than 2 times the voters expressing a preference for Romney’s ability to handle the economy, it would seem reasonable the President’s favorability should be lower and Romney’s higher. But that’s not the case and therein lies the question, and possibly the problem, for the Romney campaign.

In my opinion the time has come for Gov. Romney to address certain issues head-on and educate the voting public why he is the clear choice to lead the US back to an era of economic stability. Thus far he’s dabbled around the edges with attacks on Obama for his clear penchant toward bigger government and his disdain for unfettered free-markets in which businesses, small and large, can thrive but a more direct approach is needed.

To the issue of his wealth, the Governor should come out swinging and say, yes I’ve made a lot of money in my business career and I did it by making hard decisions every day. When you own and operate a business you learn to analyze, prioritize and react to ever changing conditions. As a businessman this experience is deeply ingrained in me, and while I do not plan on leading the country like a business, I will use the skills learned as a businessman to make educated and informed decisions.

These are skills that Constitutional lawyers and community organizers never learn and therefore lack the experience to make the hard decisions in an informed manner. President Obama surrounded himself with liberal economists who bought into outdated theories and we have paid the price for those misguided decisions for the last three and a half years.

To the issue of his money management, Romney should demonstrate he just used every legal means available to minimize his taxation and maximize his profitability, just like every experienced businessman would. Then he should explain that as President he will bring that experience to bear as he tears apart the budget of every department and agency looking for ways to reduce expenses and operating costs while increasing the efficiency of government overall.

These are skills that require a background in fiscal management that all successful business people possess but are not inherit in Constitutional lawyers or community organizers. You can only gain the necessary experience to overhaul a failed financial system if you’ve been on the firing line before. Gov. Romney worked in that world for years at Bain Capital where he was responsible to people who invested their money not unlike answering to taxpayers who invest their money in the US.

The crux of it is experience matters and Governor Romney has it and President Obama doesn’t, and it’s time to take Obama to task for his epic failure in stimulating the economy and creating jobs. We gave Obama a chance to learn on the job and the outcome has been abysmal with more than $5 trillion in additional debt, fewer jobs today than when he took office and an unemployment rate that is 35% higher today than his own economists predicted.

In business, no executive would be allowed to remain in a management position for anywhere near four years if they consistently missed their targets so badly. In government, the President is granted four years regardless of how poorly he performs but the second four are optional and Barack Obama is incapable of making the decisions necessary to effect true change.

It’s time for Governor Romney to stop dancing around the edges and take the fight directly to President Obama. 60% of the voters believe we’re headed in the wrong direction and 63% have more confidence in Romney to manage the economy.

Those numbers should translate into lower approval numbers for the President and higher favorability numbers for the Governor, but neither will materialize until the voters understand why Romney’s business background does not mean running the country like a business. Rather it’s applying a measured and practical approach to getting this country back on the path to economic stability.

Experience matters, Romney has it and Obama doesn’t, and the Governor has to start saying that clearly and loudly, every day.