CBS: Obama Has 'Huge Opportunity' in Hurricane Aftermath; Plays Up 'Edge on Empathy'
On Wednesday's CBS This Morning, Jan Crawford hyped the cleanup from Hurricane Sandy as a "huge opportunity"
for President Obama to display his leadership skills, as opponent Mitt
Romney currently hold the advantage in that area in the latest CBS News
poll of key battleground states, particularly in Florida.
Crawford also touted that Obama could "build his lead on the question of which candidate better understands people's needs and problems. Voters here [in Florida] give him the edge on empathy."
The CBS correspondent made this assertion at the end of her report on
the former Massachusetts governor's "pretty low profile over the past
couple of days, as he's been trying to walk this fine line between
maintaining a public presence while the East Coast was getting battered
by Hurricane Sandy."
Prior to Crawford's report, anchors Charlie Rose and Norah O'Donnell spotlighted how "Obama
leads Governor Mitt Romney by five points in Ohio. That's the same as
last week. In Virginia, the President holds a two-point lead. However, his Republican challenger has an edge with independent voters."
The CBS journalist did point out during the segment that Romney "picked up a lot of ground here" in Florida in her network's latest poll. She also noted that the Republican was "in a dead heat with the President, after trailing by nine points just over a month ago."
Later, Crawford outlined that "Romney is now edging out the President among seniors, and has cut his lead with women voter in half....Our polls shows voters here believe
he will do a better job working with Democrats and Republicans. More
Florida voters also say Romney has stronger leadership qualities than
the President."
The full transcript of Jan Crawford's report from Wednesday's CBS This Morning:
CHARLIE ROSE: Now to politics and the race for the White House. A new
Quinnipiac/CBS News/New York Times poll focus on three battleground
states that could decide Tuesday's presidential election.
[CBS News Graphic: "Race For The White House: CBS Poll: Obama Leads In Key States"]
NORAH O'DONNELL: President Obama leads Governor Mitt Romney by five
points in Ohio. That's the same as last week. In Virginia, the President
holds a two-point lead. However, his Republican challenger has an edge
with independent voters. And in Florida, Governor Romney has cut the
President's nine-point advantage last month to just one point.
[CBS News Graphic: "Quinnipiac University/CBS News/New York Times Poll:
Presidential Race Among Ohio Voters: Likely Voters: Obama, 50%; Romney,
45%; Presidential Race Among Virginia Voters: Likely Voters: Obama,
49%; Romney, 47%; Presidential Race Among Florida Voters: Likely Voters:
Obama, 48%; Romney, 47%; Margin of Error: +/- 3% Pts."]
Jan Crawford is in Tampa covering the Romney campaign. Jan, good morning.
[CBS News Graphic: "Race For The White House: Romney Back On Campaign Trail"]
JAN CRAWFORD: Well, good morning to you, Norah. Romney has really been
keeping a pretty low profile over the past couple of days, as he's been
trying to walk this fine line between maintaining a public presence
while the East Coast was getting battered by Hurricane Sandy. But now,
we got six days left. He is back on the campaign trail here in Florida.
He's got a rally later this morning. You see his campaign plane in the
background. He's hoping to build that momentum - continue building the
momentum - and, as you said, our poll shows he has picked up a lot of
ground here.
CRAWFORD (voice-over): Romney arrived in Florida Tuesday night ahead of
three campaign events here today. He'll be joined by Senator Marco
Rubio and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, as he makes stops just
outside Miami and along the I-4 corridor, looking to reach crucial swing
voters.
Our new poll now has Romney in a dead heat with the President, after
trailing by nine points just over a month ago. Romney is now edging out
the President among seniors, and has cut his lead with women voter in
half. Today will be Romney's first campaign rally since Hurricane Sandy
pounded the East Coast. Tuesday, he was in the key state of Ohio, but
focused his attention on the storm, as he helped supporters box supplies
for victims.
[CBS News Graphic: "[Romney], 47%; [Obama]; 48%; [Romney] + 11 Senior voters; [Obama] +10 Female Voters"]
MITT ROMNEY, (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: It's part of the American
spirit, the American way, to – to give to people who are in need. And
your generosity this morning touches my heart, and I – and I appreciate
what you've done.
CRAWFORD: In Florida, Romney is expected to continue pushing a message
of bipartisanship. Our polls shows voters here believe he will do a
better job working with Democrats and Republicans. More Florida voters
also say Romney has stronger leadership qualities than the President.
CRAWFORD (on-camera): But that poll was taken before Hurricane Sandy,
and so, now, the President, who's dealing with the aftermath and the
response to that storm, has a huge opportunity to try to change those
views, and also, to build his lead on the question of which candidate
better understands people's needs and problems. Voters here give him the
edge on empathy. Norah, Charlie, and Gayle?
O'DONNELL: Jan Crawford, thank you.
