Obama Scranton Visit Aimed at White, Working-Class Vote
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President Obama‘s choice of Scranton, Pa., to talk taxes today isn’t just coincidence: it’s a strategic backdrop for a pre-election pitch aimed largely at white working-class voters in critical swing states.
In a speech at Scranton High School — a setting identical to one used last week in Manchester, N.H. — Obama will plug his plan to extend and expand a payroll tax cut for workers and impose a new payroll tax cut for small businesses. He’ll also likely underscore Republican opposition, which has included GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney.
While today’s event is billed by the White House as official business, Obama’s campaign strategists have said their goal in states like Pennsylvania is to articulate in real, tangible terms what’s at stake for the middle class in the 2012 campaign.
If the existing payroll tax cuts are allowed to expire at the end of December, the average middle class family earning $50,000 a year would face an effective tax hike of $1,000, the White House says. In Scranton, where the median income is $34,700 according to the Census Bureau, an individual earning that amount would owe an additional $696 to the government in 2012.
“Take that away…and you’re going to cause the economy to shrink — to grow less, and you’re going to do a lot of harm to 160 million working Americans,” White House press secretary Jay Carney said Monday of the payroll tax cut.
Stealing some of Obama’s thunder, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Tuesday that a majority of Republicans would support extending the so-called payroll tax holiday when the measure comes up for a vote as early as this week. But they disagree with Obama on how to pay for the plan, which would cost the government an estimated $110 billion.
Meanwhile, Romney hasn’t clarified explicitly whether or not he supports extending the payroll tax cuts, but he has signaled that such a move would not help create jobs or improve the economy.
“If you give a temporary change to the payroll tax, and you say ‘we’re going to extend this for a year or two,’ employers do not hire people for a year or two,” Romney said at the Bloomberg debate in New Hampshire last month. “I don’t like temporary little Band-Aids,” he added.
Senior Obama campaign officials say Romney’s mere appearance of wanting to tear that “Band-Aid” off — while simultaneously blocking higher taxes on wealthier Americans and seeking to rollback regulations on Wall Street — gives Democrats and Obama an edge, especially with white independents in states like Pennsylvania.
Obama won Pennsylvania by 10 points over John McCain in 2008 and Lackawanna County, which includes Scranton, by a wide 62-to-36-percent margin. The county remains a Democratic stronghold, but Obama’s support statewide has been on the slide.
A Quinnipiac University poll earlier this month found 52 percent of Pennsylvania voters disapprove of Obama, while just 41 percent say Obama would do a better job handling the economy compared to Mitt Romney, who had 45 percent support.
“In Pennsylvania, where Obama got his biggest win of the three swing states in 2008, he does no better against the GOP challengers,” said Qunnipiac’s Peter Brown. “He won the Keystone State by double digits in 2008. But, even here his job approval ratings have been in the mid-40s or lower most of the year. Few expect that same double-digit margin if he carries the state next November.”
Nationwide among non-college-educated whites Obama fares worse. The most recent ABC News/Washington Post poll found just 30 percent of those voters trust Obama to do a better job protecting the middle class than Republicans. And in a hypothetical match-up with Romney, the former governor leads by double digits, 52-to-36 percent.
Ahead of Obama’s trip — his eighth to Pennsylvania this year — the Republican National Committee began blasting the president over the state’s unemployment rate, which has lingered above 8 percent.
“In 2008, Obama told the people of Scranton that his green energy plan would ‘lower gas prices and create millions of jobs.’ The program has done neither. He said he would have a plan to ‘stabilize the housing market.’ So far, his plan has simply not worked,” said RNC spokesman Joe Pounder in an email. “Finally, he said he would be ‘a president who is not playing the usual political games.’ His campaign style trip to Scranton is testament alone to that failed promise.”
Administration officials brush off criticism of the president’s “official” travel and insist the economy is on the mend, even if not quickly enough.
And as for the odds of winning Pennsylvania in 2012, Obama’s campaign team said it is confident Democrats’ 1.1 million voter registration advantage won’t be overcome.
“We have a million more Democrats and we have the ability to turn out voters like no one’s ever done before,” a senior Obama campaign official told ABC News. “In the last campaign, we had over 400 staff on the ground. We just don’t have a million person advantage in any other states. We can really do some things there. ”
The question for the months ahead will be whether Obama can get them out to vote.
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The same old script…..class warfare with an obligatory dose of finger pointing. I wonder what the unemployment figures are for Scranton?
Posted by: newcountryman | November 30, 2011, 6:34 am 6:34 am
Tell me you don’t still believe that the rich are going to stop sending jobs overseas and start hiring here in the U.S. …lol.
Obama? He lost working class vote of all colors a few years back and he will never get the religious right vote that he keeps trying to buy via right wing legislation.
Posted by: whatever | November 30, 2011, 6:44 am 6:44 am
Obama flies around the country campaigning on the tax payers dime. The implementation of the Chicago way is complete. He steals right out in the open and flips off the voters while he does it.
Posted by: bluesdoc70 | November 30, 2011, 6:55 am 6:55 am
Being of the working class, why oh why would I vote for Obama? His bailouts and stimulus and cash for clunkers and every other thing he’s spent billions on did not improve anything for me. He obviously plays favorites when throwing money around.
I also have to remind myself that this is full blown campaign mode. Meaning I can not trust or believe a single word that comes from his mouth during this time. He’ll say anything to anyone to get elected. The list of his promises he failed to keep from the last time he campaigned is more than enough evidence. Someone once said, and forgive me if I butcher it, fool me once – can’t get fooled again.
Posted by: kris | November 30, 2011, 7:50 am 7:50 am
Obama heard Dunder Mifflin is hiring
Posted by: JamesJ | November 30, 2011, 7:56 am 7:56 am
Hey Bama, keep sectionalizing and then targeting the American people.
You are sure to lose with that strategy.
Posted by: Noz | November 30, 2011, 7:59 am 7:59 am
Why is Obama allowed to campaign on the American taxpayer’s dime? This is clearly a campaign event, yet this Chicago politician, in order to steal taxpayer money for his campaign (because who would give to this dunder-head) pretends it’s part of his Presidential duties. Give me a break. As a Scranton resident, I say stay away Obama!
Posted by: Ray Nearhood | November 30, 2011, 8:24 am 8:24 am
Who does this describe?
How did he get people on his side? He did it by promising jobs to the jobless, money to the money-less, and rewards for the military-industrial complex. He did it by indoctrinating the children, advocating gun control, health care for all, better wages, better jobs, and promising to re-instill pride once again in the country, across Europe , and across the world. He did it with a compliant media – did you know that? And he did this all in the name of justice and …. . … change. And the people surely got what they voted for.
Posted by: deanbob | November 30, 2011, 8:58 am 8:58 am
Isn’t it against the law to insite a riot? The President is trying to lead a lynch mob! Shame on his profiling of people by wealth and playing the blame game!!!
Posted by: Common _ Sense | November 30, 2011, 9:13 am 9:13 am
people who work hard, get really fed up with Presidents like Obama, who squander their hard earned tax dollars, on useless spending and waste, as well as corruption in government.
Hard working folk, want a President who will build a strong country with opportunity to advance themselves. They have no use for a welfare party President.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | November 30, 2011, 9:47 am 9:47 am
Funny, how the payroll tax cut comes directly out of social security is not mention.
Social security the program that is growing rapidly. Why do the pollsters never
give a question that would really makes sense. And then separate by age bracket.
I’m sure you would find people 45 and over would want Social security left alone.
While the 45 and under crowd would probably have a different view. And let’s
watch Obama try to take credit for the Christmas hiring and shopping boom.
Posted by: deadwrestler | November 30, 2011, 10:13 am 10:13 am
“The same old script…..class warfare with an obligatory dose of finger pointing”
Sounds more like the standard Republican playbook. They’ve been actively engaging in class warfare and trying to pass off the blame for all their huge policy failures for the last 30 years. Yet here are the Republicans back again peddling their already thoroughly worn out recipe of tax cuts for the wealthy and universal deregulation. Cutting benefits and protections for working class Americans while asking nothing more from those whose incomes have multiplied many times over the last few decades IS class warfare.
Posted by: numbers | November 30, 2011, 10:17 am 10:17 am
3 close associates of DNC’s 2012 co-chair indicted… silence by ABC
OBAMA_________VS_________AMERICA
Posted by: Yep I said that | November 30, 2011, 10:20 am 10:20 am
First lady Michelle Obama enjoyed a lovely evening at Co Co. Sala on F Street on Monday night. A Yeas & Nays source tells us she dined with seven friends for dinner and, of course, dessert — which featured an edible chocolate sculpture and house-made artisanal chocolates by Chef Santosh Tiptur. We’re told Obama’s favorite savory was Chef Tiptur’s Moroccan Swordfish Sliders with chermoula marinade, fennel salad, aged pecorino and hazelnut coffee dressing.
And the middle class eats tuna fish and peanutbutter, while looking for non existent jobs
OBAMA__________VS_________AMERICA
Posted by: Yep I said that | November 30, 2011, 10:22 am 10:22 am
“And the middle class eats tuna fish and peanutbutter, while looking for non existent jobs”
Republicans may spare us their fake concern for the middle class. If they really cared about the plight of the middle class they wouldn’t be actively engaged in cutting their wages, benefits, and consumer protections, while peddling policies like austerity, which will shrink the economy and kill job growth.
Posted by: numbers | November 30, 2011, 10:37 am 10:37 am
Hey Numbers, you do realize that you live in the best darn country in the whole world, don’t you?
Posted by: Noz | November 30, 2011, 10:40 am 10:40 am
Does everyone that stay in Scranton “White Working Class”? I’m pretty sure that African Americans are working class as well! Why couldn’t this article just leave race out of this???
Posted by: Don Wilson | November 30, 2011, 10:50 am 10:50 am
Numbers is just trying to deflect the discussion from the only campaign rhetoric that Obama thinks can get him traction. I’m surprised he didn’t throw in a few Faux news and Bush legacy talking points.
Posted by: newcountryman | November 30, 2011, 11:05 am 11:05 am
NEWCOUNTRYMAN | NOVEMBER 30, 2011, 11:05 AM 11:05 AM….You readin my mind?!
Posted by: deanbob | November 30, 2011, 11:25 am 11:25 am
Don’t cha just love how this unfunded tax break (i.e., growing the national debt even more) is an absolute MUST for this president and the Democrat party. But they all INSIST that the Bush (now Obama) tax cuts are THE reason for our huge debt and deficits. So the lesson here is what? When the record-setting deficits and debts are racked up by the Democrat party it’s all just fine because they’re helping “working families” but when debts and deficits are run up by Republicans it’s irresponsible? At some point WE’LL RUN OUT OF OTHER PEOPLES’ MONEY! Sorry Dems, there’s no way around that truism.
Posted by: s | November 30, 2011, 11:28 am 11:28 am
So what do we label the people who work everyday (often more days and more hours) that make the really big money? You know, the people Obama’s got his hand out to for $35,000 per plate at his New York fund raiser tonight. Are they not part of the “working class” or “working families” as the Democrat party are so quick to label? Enough with the class warfare stuff. Come election, you will be evaulated your policies and what they have done to the economy and your divisive rhetoric. You are nothing like the “uniter” you so stridently tried to sell to the unwitting masses four years ago.
Posted by: s | November 30, 2011, 11:31 am 11:31 am
“You think the Democratic Party cares about wealth? Come on. In their minds, George Soros spending his money to help out his political views is noble, but the Koch Brothers are evil incarnate. Higher taxes are good, but no one will complain if Tim Geithner or Charlie Rangel cut corners on paying them. One might be tempted to argue that the righteousness of unions represent an inviolate principle to Democrats, but in New York, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo is trimming here and there and living to tell the tale. No, the party really is about identity politics now; us vs. them. And everybody knows which side they’re on.” – Jim Geraghty
Posted by: foggy | November 30, 2011, 11:53 am 11:53 am
Pennsylvania voters have not forgotten how Obama went to San Francisco and told those wingnuts how the people in PA were clinging to their guns and Bibles. He is two-faced, and the most radical politician to inhabit the WH since FDR.
Posted by: ettucat | November 30, 2011, 12:12 pm 12:12 pm
U.S. Congress not needs any more REPUBS working for their own parties but; U.S. citizens who work for our country.
In Congress we need American citizens that apply the law and taxes on all Americans and corporations without distinction; but not only terrorize U.S. citizens of middle-class, carrying all the weight of taxes on his shoulders.
Not anymore REPUBS to exploiting and enslaving the working-class, but paying a fair wage for their work.
Why REPUBS are not supporting our President Mr. Obama, the INCENTIVE TO OUR ECONOMY Plan?
In 3 years from Barack Obama Administration, U.S. ECONOMY is GROWING STRONGLY THAN EVER BEFORE!
Now U.S. citizens know what the interest of REPUBS are, so in 2012 nobody can beat OBAMA.
Posted by: Pet | November 30, 2011, 12:12 pm 12:12 pm
I live in Scranton. The problem in Scranton and other cities alike are due to our government’s handouts. Regardless of race and gender, when people receive handouts they aren’t going to work. Cut unemployment, drug test welfare recipients, get these drags-of-society to work so they can be taxed like the rest of us working class people. Upper, middle, lower-class shares no relation to the subject. People should have to work. If everyone worked the government would generate more taxes and can balance out the tax to income ratio more efficiently. To gain votes in the Scranton area, Obama should tell the people when you lose your manafacturing job I will pay you unemployment for 99 weeks +. He will gain their votes. People of America have lost our ancestors dignity of working-class. If I were president I would make welfare recipients and unemployed compensated workers clean streets to have an E.I.
Posted by: Making it | November 30, 2011, 12:27 pm 12:27 pm
“At some point WE’LL RUN OUT OF OTHER PEOPLES’ MONEY! Sorry Dems, there’s no way around that truism”
Except, as usual, there is nothing true about it.
a] it isn’t “other people’s money” when the public legally decides they owe it in taxes.
b] it is not running out. Those who have by far most of the wealth in this country are just sitting on trillions of dollars which they are not investing in America.
Posted by: numbers | November 30, 2011, 12:33 pm 12:33 pm
The title of this post is surely aimed at this piece from the nyt.
“All pretense of trying to win a majority of the white working class has been effectively jettisoned in favor of cementing a center-left coalition made up, on the one hand, of voters who have gotten ahead on the basis of educational attainment — professors, artists, designers, editors, human resources managers, lawyers, librarians, social workers, teachers and therapists — and a second, substantial constituency of lower-income voters who are disproportionately African-American and Hispanic.” T Edsell
Posted by: foggy | November 30, 2011, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm
Obama Admin Seals Records of Murdered Border Patrol Agent…
Scandal Fast & Furious.. Is the obama regime covering up murder???????
OBAMA__________VS___________AMERICA
Posted by: Yep I said that | November 30, 2011, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm
POSTED BY: FOGGY | NOVEMBER 30, 2011, 2:04 PM 2:04 PM
The only coalition necessary is people who wouldn’t vote for those Republican turkeys ever again.
Posted by: Jala | November 30, 2011, 3:26 pm 3:26 pm
If I don’t know anything else, I know that, if the 3.1% payroll tax cut advanced by the Obama administration is not passed, I will find a way to cut my personal spending by the amount necessary so that I create the tax cut for myself. There was never much of a future in spending money. Now the ONLY future is in saving it.
Posted by: Ptolemy | December 1, 2011, 4:43 pm 4:43 pm