GOP huddles to hone message
The Republicans begin their winter meeting in Washington today, but with three different winners in three primary states, they're struggling to present a unified front. Jeremy Hobson reports.
Supporters cheer on early primary results as they wait for Republican Presidential hopeful former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney to speak at a rally in Southfield, Michigan. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
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Scott Jagow: The race for the Republican nomination is quite a toss-up so far. Three states, three different winners. Mitt Romney won in Michigan yesterday.
The Republican National Committee begins its winter meeting today in Washington and a unified front on the economy might be at the top of the agenda -- only the party doesn't seem very unified. More now from Jeremy Hobson:
Jeremy Hobson: Last week, New York Times Columnist David Brooks proclaimed "supply-side economics had a good run, but continual tax cuts can no longer be the centerpiece of Republican Economic Policy."
Well, that's one view. Stephen Moore, senior economics writer for the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, has another:
Stephen Moore: If they hope to win in 2008, they have to run as a tax-cut party.
Moore says merging that message with the now-popular "change" message may mean proposing a flat tax and he says to capture the all-important middle-class vote:
Moore: Part of the republican challenge here is to scare voters about what Democrats would do if they take over all the levers of power.
Newt Gingrich: Well, I think Republicans just need to tell the truth about what the Democrats would do and the truth is scary enough.
That's former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who has authored a book called "Real Change." He too thinks a supply-side model remains the best option for the GOP.
Gingrich: I think you'll find people decide looking to the future that maybe they don't want a big government, big union, big regulation high tax future.
On the other hand, a stay-the-course economic platform may prove just as unpopular with voters intent on change.
In Washington, I'm Jeremy Hobson for Marketplace.
