Political analyst and Democratic pollster Doug Schoen tells Newsmax.TV that “voters clearly don’t want Obamacare” and that Mitt Romney must develop a clear alternative to win the White House this fall.
“They clearly are upset at the notion that it will make their own healthcare more expensive and make healthcare generally more unaffordable — particularly swing voters,” explained Schoen in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.
“Romney has not been clear on the issue about whether it’s a penalty or a tax — and he’s not been clear in outlining his own vision of what healthcare should be in America, other than repealing an already unpopular Obamacare,” said Schoen, a Newsmax contributor.
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The author of, “Hopelessly Divided: The New Crisis in American Politics and What it Means for 2012 and Beyond,” Schoen said that Romney must clearly define his own vision for healthcare to beat President Obama.
“Voters are less concerned with how he characterizes the measure than what is his alternative in a country where people want more affordable care and they want to expand access,” observed Schoen.
“The question is: ‘What does Gov. Romney propose in place of Obamacare?’”
Schoen stressed that both Romney and Obama must still define their platforms and convey them effectively to American voters. Otherwise, “This is going to be a very close race.”
He said that both candidates are still struggling to win over the American electorate.
“People have real problems with President Obama’s job performance — and Gov. Romney has yet to outline an alternative vision or direction for the country,” he said. “There’s still some baggage from the primaries.”
Schoen, a contributor on Fox News, believes that Americans have yet to decide which candidate is best equipped to help America overcome its economic woes.
“It’s certainly part of the larger concern and narrative about the economy,” he said. “The real question is can President Obama or Gov. Romney outline a view of how healthcare and — indeed, economic revitalization, creating jobs, stimulating economic growth — tie into a better future for America.”
He added that Romney would do well to pick Ohio Sen. Rob Portman as his running mate. “It’s a safe choice. It’ll probably help him marginally in Ohio,” Schoen said, adding that Portman is a political insider with fiscal credibility on trade and budgetary matters.
“I don’t think there will be the kind of surprises or concern that there was with Sarah Palin,” he predicted.
While Romney needs to pick up support from Hispanic voters, that doesn’t necessarily translate into having a Hispanic on the ticket.
“But I do think he needs a comprehensive immigration reform policy — and I think he does need a pathway to citizenship, not only for illegal immigrants, but particularly young illegal immigrants,” said Schoen, pointing to the case of people who have served in the military or otherwise proved themselves to be worthy of citizenship.
“It’s clear that in the absence of that, Gov. Romney has been and will be hurt,” added Schoen on the immigration issue.
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