RNC looking into what went wrong in 2012

December 10, 2012 @ 3:56 pm

Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Republican National Committee on Monday announced an inquiry to look at what went wrong in 2012's presidential election and how the GOP can respond to the nation's shifting demographics and adopt smarter political strategies.

RNC chairman Reince Priebus asked a group of five respected party leaders to examine how the GOP can better talk with voters, raise money from donors and learn from Democrats' tactics. Preibus also asked the group, known as the Growth and Opportunity Project, to look at how campaigns are best organized and deployed, how they can work with independent groups such as super political action committees, and how the party should approach the 2016 presidential primaries as part of a top-to-bottom review.

"The Growth and Opportunity Project will recommend a plan to further ensure Republicans are victorious in 2013, 2014, 2016 and beyond," Priebus said in a statement. "The work of the Growth and Opportunity Project will be critical as we move forward as a party and take our message to every American."

Romney's loss on Nov. 6 to President Barack Obama has left the GOP without a clear leader but with many questions about its future. Exit polls indicated Obama carried female, black, Hispanic and Asian voting blocs. He also won among voters under the age of 45 and those who lived in mid- to large-sized cities.

That adds up to a quandary for a party looking ahead at gubernatorial races next year in Virginia and New Jersey, as well as 2014's midterm elections.

Soul-searching after political embarrassments is nothing new, of course. After President Ronald Reagan carried 49 states in his 1984 re-election, Democrats retooled their party and set in motion pragmatic shifts that resulted in the rise of the New Democrats that Bill Clinton rode to the nomination eight years later.

"I am excited for the future of the GOP and am confident this project will strengthen our cause tremendously in the coming years," said Sharon Day, the RNC's co-chairwoman.

Former George W. Bush White House press secretary Ari Fleischer and Sally Bradshaw, a veteran strategist and top adviser to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, are among those leading the inquiry. Republican National Committeeman Henry Barbour, a GOP strategist and nephew of former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, too, will be part of the group. RNC members Zori Fonalledas of Puerto Rico and Glenn McCall of South Carolina round out the five-person committee.

Republican officials said the group would have access to RNC aides and would eventually talk to hundreds of party leaders and rank-and-file voters to better understand how the GOP came up short to Obama. After the election, top Republicans groused that Romney's campaign struggled to communicate effectively with voters, woo crucial demographic groups and break through with a winning strategy.

The party enjoyed major gains in 2010's elections, having the biggest midterm gains since 1938. Yet two years later, Republicans didn't capture the biggest prize in American politics, the presidency. Despite solid fundraising from the party and quick work from Romney after he won the nomination, the GOP couldn't overcome Obama's four-year head start and his on-the-ground advantages.


(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Comments (23)


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  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    Our kids
    December 10, 2012 4:26 pm
    Will be more concerned about "what went wrong" than any adults of voting age in 2012 ever will be. If we're lucky, maybe they actually will be smarter than us.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    The RNC Is Looking
    December 10, 2012 4:51 pm
    It shouldn't be too hard for them to figure it out. Start with the likes of Jim DeMint, The Norquist Pledge, The Tea Party, the thirst for the military complex, slashing middle class programs. If they can't figure it out, they will continue to lose and lose big.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Oh and Please
    December 10, 2012 6:39 pm
    Give some facts on "Slashing Middle Class programs"? I'd like to hear that as well?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    WSU
    December 10, 2012 6:42 pm
    Please explain to us what exactly is so bad about the Tea Party? What is it about a group of citizens demanding the fiscal accountablilty of our government to stop this insane spending such a threat to you on the Left? What is so evil about people trying to stop their government from going bankrupt?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    Maple
    December 10, 2012 7:04 pm
    They don't understand economics. They didn't once complain about Bush. They have problems with a president that has the first name Barrack. They claim he is a Muslim, wasn't born here, and hates this country. I see you have no problem saying he is a liar, incompetent, racist, class warfare baiting(Romney and the 47%?). You fit in nicely with those clowns Maple. By the way, the president doesn't spend. That is Congress that spends. Vote for your clowns and we are back in more wars in The Middle East. The majority of the citizens of this country have you guys figured out and want nothing to do with you. Be prepared to see your party to continue to self destruct and you will have nobody to blame other than yourselves, but you will take it out on others.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Nice left wing RANT WSU
    December 11, 2012 7:47 am
    You didn't answer my question. And get over it already, you won the election. I'm fine with that. i'll live. you still sound like the angry, hateful, narrow minded liberal that we all know. All the people that i know that support the Tea Party dont believe any of your pathetic liberal talking points. Now please tell us "what MIDDLE CLASS Programs? We're waiting......
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  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @maplefish
    December 11, 2012 10:26 am
    One thing that's wrong with the tea party is the same thing that's wrong with ANY group of extremists. They demand that they get thier way and that no other options are valid, considered or even relevant. There is nearly never only one way to skin a cat, and extremists get so caught up in beleiving thier own rhetoric that they cannot accept that there very likely are alternative methods to achieving the goal. Add to that the immediate and unconditional refusal to even consider any plan for ANYTHING coming from democrats. Doesn't matter what it is, they have been automatically denying ALL from the 'other side'. Again - it's a problem of extremism - "If it's not our's, it's not good for the country". I'm not saying that there isn't merit in -some- of what the tea party wants to do. I am saying that the extremism IS the problem.
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  • wsualumn wrote...
    Middler Class Programs
    December 11, 2012 6:11 pm
    Did you bother with The Ryan Budget Plan? No more home mortgage write off, privatizing Social Security, turning Medicare into a voucher system. The GOP has also tried everything it can to do away with unions and deregulation to put profits over worker safety. How about scaling back benefits for veterans? These aren't big benefits that they are asking for either. How about their desire to take away a COLA for Social Security? There are others as well. This isn't a "rant" either. It is simply the facts. Nothing really hateful here. To tell you what I see from you Maple, a lot more name calling and anger towards Obama and others that agree with him from you. I always seem to hear about how you will be fine so you have no real worries. It sounds as though it's all about you and no worry about the less fortunate. I am fine as well. I, however, have concerns about those that are less fortunate than me and truly struggle even though they are trying hard to improve their situation. Sometime you might want to consider volunteering and helping out(not by just writing a check) those that need some help. You'd be amazed how they truly appreciate some of the most simple gestures of help. Yes, I have witnessed those that directly abuse the system, but I have had direct involvement with many more that are truly the working poor. The Koch Brothers and other GOP politicians that support them are not friends of the working poor.
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  • maplefish wrote...
    Hmmmmm,
    December 12, 2012 6:07 am
    Again, those are all Left wing Talking points. And I do care about the less fortunate and I give generously to charity, which BTW works much better the Government HAND OUTS! You are so closed minded you refuse to acknowledge that people on the right give $BILLIONS more to charity than 10% of the Left. Talk about greedy...anyway, your bleeding heart entitlement BS is going to sink this country. Over the next 4 years the CBO Estimates that there will be 110 million working people will be paying for 80% of NON WORKING PEOPLE and that doesn't include SS. Socialism works great until you run out of other people's money....GOOD LUCK!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • pro_steel_header wrote...
    cant figure it out???
    December 10, 2012 5:04 pm
    they completely shunned and rail roaded the only republican candidate whom had a chance at beating obama. thats what went wrong!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • EskieMom wrote...
    Oh come on
    December 10, 2012 5:20 pm
    RNC didn't choose a candidate with a personality strong enough to compete with the Superstar Wannabe. They keep thinking their old fogies are so wise and experienced they can beat anyone, but guess what? Young people don't care for Grandpa in the White House.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Oh, yes, well
    December 10, 2012 6:42 pm
    We're so much better off with a lying, incompetent, inept, racist, class warfare baiting, uncontrolled spending, celebrity wanna-be, running the show....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    Let's start with
    December 10, 2012 7:13 pm
    Homophobia, racism, trying to control the rights of women to birth control, the list goes on and on. Let the republicans do a study on this "losing" streak they are on and see how long it takes them to figure out that the American people are not what they were in the '60s. Blacks, gay people, Hispanics and women voters told you guys to take a hike, and you still don't get the message.....Keep doing those surveys, maybe in 20 years when all the republicans are out of office there can be some progress in this country.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Wrongway
    December 11, 2012 8:05 am
    Please tell me, specifically, who said anything about taking away any women's rights? Please tell me, specifically, who on the right is racist? As for the homophobes, well, even though its not a real word, there are a few idiots that have made stupid statements. But thy o not represent the majority of the right. Most people I know on the right and even the smarter ones on he Left simply want to get the spending under control. Obama's only idea is to tax the rich. And BTW $250,000 is NOT RICH! It's comfortable, but it is NOT RICH.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @maplefish
    December 11, 2012 10:32 am
    "$250,000 is NOT RICH! It's comfortable, but it is NOT RICH." ---- compared to the vast majority of people in this country, yes - it is. The Census folks say that in 2011, the median income was $50,502. 5 times that income would certainly be considered rich by those anywhere near (above or below) the median income. (For those that don't know - 'median' is the exact 50% point where 50% of incomes are below and 50% of incomes are above that dollar amount).
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    mapleliar
    December 10, 2012 7:32 pm
    Oh yes well? What the heck does that mean? Your last post had a lot of expletives that show me and the rest of the viewers on this board that you are an angry person without any facts. I counted 7 (seven) slurs that really have no merit. How old are you? Aren't you the guy that has retired early and has 3 kids in college and are living the dream? If so, answer this. Why would you be on this site slamming the Democrats who will be in control of YOUR country for the foreseeable future (16 years) at least? If you are as wealthy and happy as you say you are, I hope you invested well and have a happy life living under Democratic rule.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    I'm very happy
    December 11, 2012 7:55 am
    I simply do not like or trust Barak Obama. I think he is totally dishonest and has divided this country more than ever in my 50 years. I do not like the Class Warfare or the constant blaming of everyone lose for his failure. Demonizing the successful in this country is a very dangerous path. I'll be fine financially, but I think the government gets enough of my money. The Obama administration does not have a revenue problem. Thy have a spending problem. Anyone with half a brain can see that. Even you Longwayhome. Of course, you being on welfare & food stamps would have. Vested interest in keeping the wealth distribution center up and running. Good luck with that....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @maplefish
    December 11, 2012 10:42 am
    Thank you for a mostly rational comment (until you got to insulting LongWayHome about being on welfare. I don't know why you guys have to drop to cheap insults, but I won't). I don't agree with your comments, but because it was reasonable and rational, I'll respond in kind. ------ When you blame Obama for class warfare and 'the blame game', you need to look at how the Republicans have played the PR game with thier rhetoric, thier orchestrated attacks and thier orchestrated use of certain phrases and concepts in order to create the ideas of class warfare and blame game. Obama's not doing it to any greater extent than the Republicans, but the Republicans sure have the right wing beleiving that Obama's one of the greatest evils ever on this earth - when in reality he's no worse than any average President that we've ever had.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Ummmm
    December 12, 2012 6:13 am
    Have you not seen the insults and sssshittttorbrains hateful comments that wrongway posts? You guys really are clueless on economics, but it's too late for you now. Obama is a LIAR! " it's NOT a TAX" . " George Bush's spending is un patriotic"? He's spent more tax money that all the POTUS's combined and shows NO SIGN of STOPPING. Socialism works great until you run out of other people's money. You guys think that's just fine. I do not. It's a SPENDING PROBLEM you idiots....GOOD LUCK to you sheep.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    * RNC looking into what went wrong in 2012? . . . .
    December 11, 2012 2:58 pm
    you get till 2020 to find the answer. I wouldn't count on it. RNC let's call 2012 a train wreck of the RNC circus train. No survivors.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    Couldn't finish that post
    December 11, 2012 2:59 pm
    Without a stab, could you? No welfare or food stamps here. Earn a good wage running my truck up and down the coast and am accustomed to paying a lot of tax on fuel and pro-rates for Cal. Ore. and Wash. I think the tax rate is high but I also realize that it takes a lot of money to keep the highway systems operating. That's how I make a living and that is how food and products get distributed around the country. To make a long story short I would pay more in taxes to keep this country running, Obama's administration is no different than any other one in the past, and if the republicans had won, it would not change a thing.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mo Gaud wrote...
    Insults
    December 11, 2012 5:11 pm
    are the last result for the out-argued.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Vlastimil wrote...
    "the ayes have it"
    December 11, 2012 6:51 pm
    What went wrong is the Boehner and Priebus element of the GOP giving the finger to Ron Paul and the libertarian wing of the party. With those A.holes in charge, who needs democrats?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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