Romney makes low profile Puget Sound campaign stop
SEATTLE -- Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney took an unusual approach to his Monday campaign stop in the Seattle area.
He didn't visit any schools or factories, he didn't give any speeches and he didn't hold any public fundraising events.
Longtime political analyst Ron Dotzauer said he's never seen anything like it.
"He's missing an opportunity, I believe, to talk to voters," Dotzauer said. "I don't remember another case, for instance, where a candidate came into town so quietly where people didn't even know where the event was."
When President Barack Obama rolled into town last month for a fundraiser, there was a photo-op with big name state democrats such as Jay Inslee. Obama's visits are well-planned media events, while Romney chose to keep his stop low key and under the radar.
"It's odd," Dotzauer said. "That's all I can say. It's just odd."
Romney's poll numbers are on the rise nationally, but Washington remains a tough sell for the Republican candidate.
"If I'm (Attorney General) Rob Mckenna, I'm not going to get a side-by-side picture with Mitt Romney, and I'm not going to give you guys a chance to take that picture," Dotzauer said.
McKenna, a Republican who's running for governor, was in Texas on Monday. An official from his campaign said it was a scheduling conflict.
When Romney visited the area in March, it was an event. This time it's about getting money and getting out, according to Dotzauer.
"Right now he's a drag on the ticket in Washington State, okay? He is at the top of the ticket (but) his negatives are so high that he does not help anybody else," Dotzauer said.
Asked Monday about Romney's Washington strategy, the state GOP referred all questions to the Western Regional Campaign, which deferred to the national campaign, which didn't respond.
He didn't visit any schools or factories, he didn't give any speeches and he didn't hold any public fundraising events.
Longtime political analyst Ron Dotzauer said he's never seen anything like it.
"He's missing an opportunity, I believe, to talk to voters," Dotzauer said. "I don't remember another case, for instance, where a candidate came into town so quietly where people didn't even know where the event was."
When President Barack Obama rolled into town last month for a fundraiser, there was a photo-op with big name state democrats such as Jay Inslee. Obama's visits are well-planned media events, while Romney chose to keep his stop low key and under the radar.
"It's odd," Dotzauer said. "That's all I can say. It's just odd."
Romney's poll numbers are on the rise nationally, but Washington remains a tough sell for the Republican candidate.
"If I'm (Attorney General) Rob Mckenna, I'm not going to get a side-by-side picture with Mitt Romney, and I'm not going to give you guys a chance to take that picture," Dotzauer said.
McKenna, a Republican who's running for governor, was in Texas on Monday. An official from his campaign said it was a scheduling conflict.
When Romney visited the area in March, it was an event. This time it's about getting money and getting out, according to Dotzauer.
"Right now he's a drag on the ticket in Washington State, okay? He is at the top of the ticket (but) his negatives are so high that he does not help anybody else," Dotzauer said.
Asked Monday about Romney's Washington strategy, the state GOP referred all questions to the Western Regional Campaign, which deferred to the national campaign, which didn't respond.
Yes Romney cares about the Northwest Republican voters so much he dips his foot in to test the waters and gets the heck out of the pool. Seriously guy you are running for president grow a pair and stand up for your case...any chances of you getting my vote just went out the window!Â