Today on AirTalk we wrap up on the Republican National Convention in Tampa before returning to sunny Southern California. How was Mitt Romney's speech last night? What are YOUR takeaways from the convention? How will what we saw on primetime affect the Democratic Convention next week and the remainder of the election? And we'll contemplate whether or not we could ever elect Governor Condoleezza Rice here in the Golden State.
Romney speaks!
Last night was the moment Republicans had been fretting over since the end of the primary season. Mitt Romney delivered his case for the presidency not just to the GOP base, but also to the widest audience of potential voters yet. Well, how did he do?
The main criticisms of Mr. Romney are typically that he is stiff and awkward and light on details for his policy plans, and his speech seemed an attempted remedy to that. Romney teared up twice when discussing his parents and children, giving voters a rare glimpse at the more personal side of the candidate. He even mentioned Mormonism by name, when in the past his campaign has avoided discussing his religion. His critiques of President Obama came in the form of relieving the public of their duty to vote for him, and he didn’t really offer concrete examples of how he’d change policy. So was it enough?
The other notable speech came from Florida Senator Marco Rubio who talked about American Exceptionalism and the opportunities this country affords all who live here. To illustrate, he spoke of his parents, both immigrants from Cuba, and even quoted his dad in Spanish. Did his message make any inroads with Latino voters, a group the Republican party needs to win over? How did both speakers fare when it comes to accuracy in their statements? Did Romney’s speech contain rhetorical fireworks, or was it more of a dud?
And what about Clint Eastwood’s surprise appearance? Some thought his “empty chair” bit was clever; others found it baffling. Did his performance help or harm Romney?
Guest:
David Mark, Editor-in-Chief for Politix.com and author of Going Dirty: The Art of Negative Campaigning
Glenn Kessler, Washington Post reporter who writes “The Fact Checker.”
Lisa Mascaro, Washington reporter for the Los Angeles Times
Your take on the Republican National Convention
Sweep up the red, white and blue confetti. Take down the banners. Deflate the balloons. The Republican National Convention is over. The politicians are clearing the stage and headed back to Washington or the campaign trail.
But now that they’re out of the way, we want to turn our attention to you. What did you think of Mitt Romney’s performance last night? What about the other speakers you saw throughout the week? And what about the convention overall?
Were you impressed with the Republicans and their general message? Did they succeed in contrasting their vision of America with President Barack Obama’s and the Democrats? Did anything over the past few days change the way you think about the election? Call in and let us know.
Guest:
David Mark, Editor-in-Chief for Politix.com and author of Going Dirty: The Art of Negative Campaigning
RNC impact and election strategy
With the Republican National Convention coming to a close, the election will be ratcheting it up over the next few months. Attacks will get more intense. Debates will show voters how the men running for their votes defend and present their own ideas.
Since the convention kicked off in Tampa, you can bet Democratic political consultants were drawing up plans in the war room for the Obama campaign. And with the Democratic National Convention launching on Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina, the media gurus and event planners are making sure to respond to the speeches and performances at the RNC with effective rebuttals.
Besides, this is the Obama’s campaign last major chance to reframe itself to the American people before the debates.
How will what happened at the RNC affect the DNC? What issues arose this week that will certainly play out as talking points on the campaign trail? What strategies will the two parties and campaigns be employing until the big day in November?
Guests:
Frank Stoltze, KPCC Reporter
Jonathan Wilcox, Republican strategist and former speech writer for Governor Pete Wilson
Darry A. Sragow, Attorney and longtime democratic strategist
Lauren Osen, KPCC producer
Could Condoleezza Rice capture the governership in California?
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice delivered a memorable speech at the RNC on Wednesday night, and while it didn’t shed much light on the specifics of Mitt Romney’s foreign policy, it did fuel speculation for Rice’s political future.
Rice has kept a relatively low profile, even during the Bush Administration. Though she has come out to endorse a few candidates, she’s mainly relegated herself to academia, book tours and the golf course, enjoying a slight media bump by becoming one of the first two women ever admitted to the all-male Augusta National Golf Club.
Whether you agree with her politics or not, most people can respect Rice for her political acumen and her ability to navigate political circles. Some Republican operatives are even talking about her running for office in 2016, including commentator Ron Nehring, the former chairman of the California Republican Party, who says she’d be a perfect fit to govern the Golden State.
"I'd love to see her run for governor," he said. "I think she has a lot to bring to the table, she's a compelling figure, and I think that all of those facts were on display during the convention."
Nehring said that he has not discussed the prospect with Rice and she has not given any indication she'll run, the idea has gained traction.
"By no means am I predicting that she would run for office, but that doesn't change the fact that, boy, there are many people in the party who would love to see her do it, and perhaps she could be persuaded," he continued.
Nehring posited that as a possible frontrunner for the Republican Party, Jerry Brown would face an "incredible challenge to the likes of which he has never seen before in public office."
According to him, Rice may appeal to independent voters because she harbors views contrary to the stereotypical Republican mindset, like immigration, for example.
"We must continue to welcome the world's most ambitious people to be a part of us. In that way, we must stay young and optimistic and determined. We need immigration laws that protect our borders, meet our economic needs, and yet, show that we are a compassionate nation of immigrants," she spoke at the Republican National Convention.
Open to a path of legalization during the Bush administration, Rice could be attractive to California's growing Latino electorate.
"The bottom line is that people want to see Condoleezza Rice continue to play a role in the Republican Party and in our government to the degree she is willing and able and interested to do so," Nehring said. "And that can take whatever form she's ultimately comfortable with and may not take at all. I think it would be a great loss to the party, as well as the country and the state, if a leader of her caliber is not engaged in public service in some way."
WEIGH IN:
While having a conservative back in the driver’s seat in California would be a dream come true for the GOP, is it a realistic possibility? With a dwindling Republican voter presence here, what fighting chance does a Republican have on the state level? In 2010, Jerry Brown defeated Meg Whitman by over 10 percentage points. What do Republicans need to do to recapture Sacramento? What characteristics comprise your ideal conservative candidate?
Guests:
Ron Nehring, Republican strategist and commentator, former Chairman of the California Republican party
Frank Stoltze, KPCC reporter