Post date: Aug 25, 2012 11:9:12 PM
Republican presidential candidate Romney heads to Convention to launch offensive on the economic record of U.S. President Barack Obama. Deborah Lutterbeck reports.
USA-CONVENTION ROMNEY -Republican Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney and his Vice Presidential running mate Paul Ryan hold a rally for thousands in the swing state of Ohio, as Republicans prepare to meet in Tampa for the convention to formally nominate the ticket.
While Republicans had hoped to target the economy -- in the run up to the convention the focus has moved to social issues like Medicare and abortion rights.
Getting the message right at the right time will be key says Bradley Blakeman who served as a senior adviser to President George W. Bush.
BRADLEY Blakeman, AN INSTRUCTOR AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY WHO SERVED AS A SENIOR ADVISER TO U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, SAYING:
"Either you can define yourself, or you can be defined by your opponent. If you are defined by your opponent, your opponent wins. If you are able to define yourself, you have more of a shot at beating an incumbent president."
While Romney has had a change of heart on key issues like abortion rights since he served as Governor of Massachusetts, Democrats are not expected to focus on his evolving positions says Judd Legum of the Center for Americans Progress.
UDD LEGUM, OF THE DEMOCRATIC THINK TANK, THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS, AND WHO SERVED AS HILLARY CLINTON'S RESEARCH DIRECTOR DURING HER PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, SAYING:
"I think there has been a strategic decision on the Democratic side that we are not going to talk so much about that because I think the worry is that could communicate to independents and moderates that maybe he is really not that severe -- really not that extreme."
The Republican National Convention is scheduled to run from Monday through Thursday.