The Reince and Rob Show
The Republican national and state committee chairmen, Reince Priebus and Rob Gleason, hosted a ritual prebuttal call Wednesday morning denouncing President Obama's appearance in Scranton.
Mr. Priebus called the president the campaigner-in-chief as he said that this was is 56th visit to a battleground state, calling it a record for any president at this point in his first term. He was referring to a study cited earlier this week in the Wall St. Journal. White House Press secretary Jay Carney disputed that analysis in his regular briefing Monday, contending that it was an apples to oranges comparison in that Mr. Obama's 2008 victory effectively made more states, such as Virginia and North Carolina, fall into the informal battleground category than in the recent past.
In any case, Mr. Priebus blamed the lagging economy on the president's "failed promises," and contended that he had exhibited a lack of leadership in not taking a more prominent role in guiding the failed congressional super committee. That has become a standard GOP attack lone indecent days. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie offered a similar critique a few days ago.
His morning talk show side kick, Mr. Gleason, said that the president had been to Pennsylvania so many times that he expected him to move to the state in 2012. He also said it would be a slap in the face to the president if Sen. Bob Casey did not appear with him in is Scranton home. Mr. Casey said earlier in the week that the senate voting schedule was likely to keep him in Washington.
Mr. Priebus must be confident of the state of the Senate calendar. He offered reporters on the call $100 if they could get a good photo of the two Democrats together. Early Returns will be sure to be in the front row at Scranton High School for the jobs event, cell phone camera at the ready.
UPDATE: Exerpts collected by the RNC with audio link after the jump.
RNC Chairman Reince Priebus:"Well Obama, or as I like to call him, the campaigner-in-chief, is making yet another stop on the campaign trail, this time in Scranton today, before heading off to one of his next best favorite places, New York City, to fundraise. As a matter of fact, this is his 56th stop in a battleground state on taxpayer's money and that's really a record for any president...
"The Republican National Committee is going to be committed very heavily in Pennsylvania. We think that that state is one of the top battleground states in the country right now, and Pennsylvania is ready to show Barack Obama the door and that's because it comes down to broken promises...
"Today, the RNC is out with a new web ad called 'Failed Promises: Scranton' that highlights Obama's promises that he made in Scranton, PA in 2008, and his failure to deliver after three years, something he says could make him a one term president, in Barack Obama's own words, saying that by failing to do what he promised, that should make him a one term president.
"In 2008, he promised Pennsylvania hope and change, and what did they get? They got unemployment that has risen by 19%. Pennsylvania has lost 37,900 manufacturing jobs since he's been president. 189,000 more Pennsylvanians are living in poverty...
"Pennsylvanians, and I would say Americans across the country, want a leader who's willing to step up to the plate and get to work, not one who's worried about the next campaign event, blaming everything under the sun..."
PA GOP Chairman Rob Gleason:
"The truth is that this president's disastrous leadership has caused our economy to burn out, and cities like Scranton are feeling the pain of his job crushing policies. Visits like today's are simply the president's attempt to distract voters from what his administration has been supporting these past three years- more taxes, more spending, and more debt.
"Last week Public Policy Polling came out with devastating news for President Obama's reelection campaign. President Obama has a 53% disapproval rating among Pennsylvania voters, a 9 point drop from 5 months ago. These are directly tied to voter's complete dissatisfaction with his failed leadership and failed handling of our economy. The President has failed to lead, it is as simple as that, and the voters are holding him accountable for it...
"The trouble is that voters know the tough realities that come with 9% unemployment and $15 trillion in debt, and they are ready for a new direction.
"Let us not forget that President Obama has not acted alone. Only with stalwart support from Senate Democrats like Senator Bob Casey, has he been able to successfully ram through miserable policies. Bob Casey has voted with President Obama 98% of the time...
"It's a shame that Bob Casey, a son of Scranton has completely abandoned the people who sent him to Washington, standing with Obama instead of Pennsylvanians. Voters will most certainly hold Bob Casey accountable for his blind support of Obama's failed agenda..."
Click Here To Listen To The Full Audio: http://www.gop.com/audio/11.30.2011_Scranton.mp3