You're watching...
National Research founder Adam Geller on why men and women are largely voting on the same issues in this election.
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
At all and I'd tell us what other critical factors will determine the outcome of this presidential race -- dollar.
Founder CEO of the Republican polling firm National Research.
New Jersey governor Chris Christie is pollster.
His polling and consulting.
Key in a number of races leading to a Republican takeover of the house in 2010 welcome out of a personal.
I can't tell you how solemn I hear people talking about protecting the national -- -- writing about.
The importance of the 2010 election setting the stage for this one the relevance in the imports.
While the relevance and importance is.
Absolutely clear and because of the fact that I get to do stuff for Governor Christie.
We thought in 2009.
What we saw in 2009 was really a preview of 2010.
And in 2010.
It is really looking like a preview 2012.
What does that mean energize Republican base.
And most importantly independents.
Who were behavior -- Republican by that we need independence nonpartisan.
But taking the Republican side on a lot of the key issues just like some of those polling issues that you that you.
Spoke about these are stunning numbers to see -- the president's approval disapproval -- He has -- positive.
Only on those two issues Afghanistan and Iran and I think some people might be surprised -- that fact.
And governor Romney right now running for early with a weapon.
And significantly so in many polls as -- know.
Double digits in some one poll 22% behind.
But what does he need to do.
Well the first thing that he needs to do is understand that this year.
There is no women's vote and I think he already knows that the that what happens this year is that the economy.
And you know job creation or lack thereof really trumps everything else.
So women and men care about the same things traditionally there's been a gender gap a lot of people talk about Republican problems with women but you know the -- is also true.
Means Democrats really struggle with a lot of men.
Why because men care about you know the the you know this enormous size and scope of government.
You know women -- -- women are concerned the government has gotten -- out of control so many -- is here -- Republican easily by.
Into this demographic slicing and -- to the point that they effectively become practitioners have group an -- politics themselves to their detriment.
-- and -- in terms of messages you know I think it Democrats have really kind of run the table when it comes to identity politics -- a you know I think that I think that Republicans are are doing.
The basics which is it's not really it's not so much identity politics.
With Republicans about bridging ideology here's what happens.
Democrats win elections by building coalition identity politics Republicans win elections when they're able to -- the conservative dates.
And build a bridge to the moderate independent voter in the middle.
As a political.
Strategist that's the key to winning these things.
Governor Romney's folks talking like they don't wanna discuss anything for -- bigger -- the governor saying.
That it is still the economy and -- are not stupid.
Yet at the same time we -- and the president move forward pick a new position.
Those supporting same sex marriage.
The family is -- is central in the thinking of Americans right now.
Whether it is in terms of supporting them financial.
Providing jobs providing education disappointment a -- frustration abounds in.
The Republicans don't have the luxury of picking one issue the economy -- Well it's not so much of -- -- group of picking one issue what what I think you're going to see is the Republicans.
Focusing on the big issues I mean certainly the economy and jobs because it is just -- prevalent voters' minds.
And then there's the that the general philosophy of -- overwhelmingly good or government be an and and what kind of role should government -- in our lives.
I think you're going to see the Democrats actually looking you're they're going to be in search of an issue that's going to be able to help them wedge that's going to be able to help them.
You try and make people forget this is why they're talking about.
What Mitt Romney did in high school and they're talking about six or their their financial -- -- -- -- -- -- Republicans talking about.
What was all over Drudge.
Which is -- from 1991 to 2007.
A publishers document talking about him being born in Kenya.
I mean if -- there's like there's -- to boo about it.
-- haven't this wall come up around that well you know.
There are so many different entities that are really gonna be this is going to be a straightforward answer because we're in real trouble on top.
Okay fine the straightforward answer is.
By the time this has also been done there'll be some -- that probably talked about that but the reality is the independents the people in the middle right they care about one thing and one thing -- fix this economy and as a corollary to that -- let's create some real private sector job.
Okay I buy all of that except for one thing yet I don't know where the national media was in 2008 I don't know where it is now.
I don't understand where the governor's position brings him -- and we talked about the family.
In all of those issues are important to millions of Americans.
I get that position I get the message I'm just not sure that its stronger a lot of enough to be the only that's -- We're gonna continue this discussion come back ought to look forward to that's -- --
