Departments

Winning The Day

Change vs. Hope

January 16, 2012

Q. How do you think Mitt Romney is faring communication-wise?

A. With a squeak-through lead of eight votes over Rick Santorum in the Iowa caucus and a clear sweep of the New Hampshire primary, Mitt Romney is, as predicted by various polls, at the front of the fray for the GOP nomination for president. New Hampshire, known for its contrary voter behavior, landed squarely in Romney’s camp, giving him 39.3 percent of the votes. Ron Paul, in second place, made a strong showing with 22.9 percent.

So what is happening? From McCarthy Blanchard’s perspective, the GOP electorate is separating the wheat from the chaff, quickly paring the field of potential presidential nominees to get to the candidate with the best odds of unseating President Obama. Barring the unforeseen, it is likely that Romney will carry the nomination.

Then again, anything can — and will — happen.

Romney’s messaging, while not particularly exciting, is definitely consistent. He gets extra credit for staying on message even when being attacked as a capitalist by Newt Gingrich.

Romney’s messaging is built around restoring American values and leadership. While President Obama campaigned on “Change,” Romney is hanging his hat on “Hope” and the conviction that America “must be better, and it will be better.”

Hmmm.

Such promises — from both quarters — make for good refrigerator magnets. As time goes on, watch for Romney and other GOP nominee hopefuls to put some muscle, actual plans, behind campaign rhetoric. Let’s hope.

Paula Blanchard Stone and Patty McCarthy are partners in McCarthy Blanchard, an executive training firm specializing in key message development, presentation skills training, media interview training and executive presence. Copyright © 2008 McCarthy Blanchard. | Website