President Barack Obama’s chief campaign strategist is dismissive of the Republicans who want his boss’ job, saying they are eager to criticize the Democratic incumbent without offering substantive ways to help the country.
David Axelrod said it’s too early to start sizing up the competition, but he took on the emerging field of candidates when asked to assess the Republicans’ first major debate of the campaign season last Monday in New Hampshire. Republicans at that forum condemned Mr. Obama’s handling of the economy and pledged to repeal his health care overhaul.
“There seemed to be a unanimity of antipathy toward the president,” said Mr. Axelrod, who left the White House this year to return to Chicago to work on the re—election campaign. “I didn’t hear a lot of ideas,” but rather “a lot of pat partisan platitudes,” he told CNN’s “State of the Union” in an interview taped earlier and broadcast on Sunday.
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Mr. Axelrod seemed intent on going after former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the perceived front—runner, and citing the support that former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, a Republican who was Mr. Obama’s ambassador to China, had given the president.
Mr. Romney, who sought his party’s presidential nomination in 2008, already faces questions from his rivals about his record of changing positions on social issues including abortion and gay rights, shifts that have left conservatives questioning his sincerity. In addition, Mr. Romney championed a health care law enacted in Massachusetts that’s similar to Mr. Obama’s national health overhaul, which conservatives loathe.
“It’s not unusual in politics for people who are ambitious to change their points of views on fundamental things to try and win an election,” Mr. Axelrod said in the broadcast interview. “But that’s not what people want in the president of the United States.”
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Mr. Huntsman’s moderate stances on some issues and his service in the Obama administration could hurt him with the Republican Party’s right—leaning base. He is set to officially enter the race on Tuesday.
Mr. Axelrod said that when he was in China in the fall of 2009, he had a chance to talk with Mr. Huntsman. “He was very effusive about what the president was doing. He was encouraging on health care. He was encouraging on the whole range of issues. He was a little quizzical about what was going on in his own party. And you got the strong sense that he was going to wait until 2016 for the storm to blow over.”
Mr. Axelrod said that “obviously circumstances change. So I was surprised when he emerged as a candidate. But certainly I take him seriously.”
Later on Sunday, Mr. Huntsman’s spokesman Tim Miller, responded - “Axelrod’s comments are absurd. Gov. Huntsman’s record on health care and the economy (was) the opposite of President Obama’s top—heavy, government—centric, failed approach. That is the record he will run on.”
Assessing the Republican debate, Mr. Axelrod said Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, “who was relatively unknown, probably did herself some good there.”
He noted that some politicians who weren’t yet candidates may join the race. “That will add to the fun,” he said.
One candidate in waiting is George W. Bush’s successor as Texas governor, Rick Perry, who is drawing much interest.
Mr. Perry’s appearance on Saturday at the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans offered yet another tantalizing hint that he’s ready to upend a crowded field of candidates who have worked months to amass name recognition, organization and campaign cash.
“I stand before you today as a disciplined conservative Texan, a committed Republican and a proud American, united with you to restoring our nation and revive the American dream,” Mr. Perry said.
Mr. Perry, the longest serving governor in Texas history, has long insisted he wouldn’t run. But in recent weeks, he has softened his refusals and his advisers have started laying the groundwork for a campaign in Iowa, whose caucuses kick off the nomination selection process.
As Mr. Perry waits in the wings, some of the already announced candidates were doing their best to build support at the New Orleans conference.
They included three favourites of the small government, anti—tax tea party movement - Bachmann, who enjoys strong support among social conservatives; former pizza executive Herman Cain; and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, a champion of the party’s libertarian wing.
They all hit similar messages about making Mr. Obama a one—term president, repealing his health care overhaul and lowering taxes.
Absent from the New Orleans event were the nominal front—runner, Mr. Romney; Mr. Huntsman; and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
Despite Mr. Romney’s perceived front—runner status, he finished in fifth place in a straw poll of participants at the New Orleans conference with 74 votes. Mr. Paul finished first with 612 votes. Mr. Huntsman received 382 votes to finish a surprising second. Mr. Bachmann collected 191 votes and Mr. Cain got 104 votes.
Republicans’ pining for new candidates has so far resulted in disappointment.
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee decided to skip the race. Real estate tycoon and reality TV star Donald Trump flirted early and then left. Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska and the party’s 2008 vice-presidential pick, still has not said what she will do.