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| Play it again, Mitt: Obama and Romney's greatest hits from the trail | Play it again, Mitt: Obama and Romney's greatest hits from the trail |
| (4 months later) | |
| When Barack Obama and Mitt Romney hit the trail, what do they usually tell their crowds? What lines do they bust out at every campaign stop – often just swapping out the name of one state for another? Chances are you've never been to a rally, but we can tell you. | When Barack Obama and Mitt Romney hit the trail, what do they usually tell their crowds? What lines do they bust out at every campaign stop – often just swapping out the name of one state for another? Chances are you've never been to a rally, but we can tell you. |
| We studied transcripts and videos of more than two dozen speeches by the candidates since the last week of September, and we've identified their most oft-repeated phrases and promises. While we could have, we didn't count the frequent minor jabs, but focused on the more monumental statements that wound their way into every speech. | We studied transcripts and videos of more than two dozen speeches by the candidates since the last week of September, and we've identified their most oft-repeated phrases and promises. While we could have, we didn't count the frequent minor jabs, but focused on the more monumental statements that wound their way into every speech. |
| If you showed up at one of the candidates' recent campaign stops, here's what you have expected to hear – often verbatim. | If you showed up at one of the candidates' recent campaign stops, here's what you have expected to hear – often verbatim. |
| Obama's greatest hits from the trail | Obama's greatest hits from the trail |
| Despite having taken time off from campaigning this week to deal with his actual presidential duties after superstorm Sandy, here's what president Obama has been telling his rally-goers over the past month. | Despite having taken time off from campaigning this week to deal with his actual presidential duties after superstorm Sandy, here's what president Obama has been telling his rally-goers over the past month. |
| I will say it again – the path I'm offering is not quick or easy. But it leads to a better place. | I will say it again – the path I'm offering is not quick or easy. But it leads to a better place. |
| I want to end tax breaks for companies that are shipping jobs overseas, give them to companies that are investing and creating jobs right here in the United States of America. | I want to end tax breaks for companies that are shipping jobs overseas, give them to companies that are investing and creating jobs right here in the United States of America. |
| I want to cut our oil imports in half by 2020 so we control more of our own energy. | I want to cut our oil imports in half by 2020 so we control more of our own energy. |
| The last thing we can afford, [insert battleground state name], right now is four years of the very same policies that led us into the mess in the first place. | The last thing we can afford, [insert battleground state name], right now is four years of the very same policies that led us into the mess in the first place. |
| I also want to make sure that our kids and our workers are better trained than everybody else. We've got to make this a national mission. I want to recruit 100,000 math and science teachers to make sure our kids are at the cutting edge. I want to train 2 million workers at community colleges so they have the skills for the jobs that are there right now and the jobs of the future. I want to work to make sure that colleges and universities keep tuition down so our young people aren't burdened with debt. | I also want to make sure that our kids and our workers are better trained than everybody else. We've got to make this a national mission. I want to recruit 100,000 math and science teachers to make sure our kids are at the cutting edge. I want to train 2 million workers at community colleges so they have the skills for the jobs that are there right now and the jobs of the future. I want to work to make sure that colleges and universities keep tuition down so our young people aren't burdened with debt. |
| [Insert battleground state name], we cannot grow this economy from the top down. This economy grows from the middle out, when everybody has ladders of opportunity; if they work hard they can succeed, they can get ahead. That's how we move ahead. | [Insert battleground state name], we cannot grow this economy from the top down. This economy grows from the middle out, when everybody has ladders of opportunity; if they work hard they can succeed, they can get ahead. That's how we move ahead. |
| I want to reduce our deficit by $4tn, but I want to do it in a balanced way. We'll cut out spending we don't need, but I'm going to ask the wealthiest Americans to pay a little bit more so we can invest in the research and technology and infrastructure that keeps new jobs and businesses coming to America. | I want to reduce our deficit by $4tn, but I want to do it in a balanced way. We'll cut out spending we don't need, but I'm going to ask the wealthiest Americans to pay a little bit more so we can invest in the research and technology and infrastructure that keeps new jobs and businesses coming to America. |
| I will never, under the guise of reducing the deficit, turn Medicare into a voucher | I will never, under the guise of reducing the deficit, turn Medicare into a voucher |
| I'll use the savings from ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to put people back to work doing some nation-building here at home rebuilding our roads and our bridges, our broadband lines in the rural areas, fixing our schools up. When our veterans come home, I want to make sure they've got jobs waiting for them. | I'll use the savings from ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to put people back to work doing some nation-building here at home rebuilding our roads and our bridges, our broadband lines in the rural areas, fixing our schools up. When our veterans come home, I want to make sure they've got jobs waiting for them. |
| Governor Romney … he's counting on you forgetting that his policies aren't going to work. He's hoping that you won't remember and you'll come down with a case of what we call 'Romnesia'. | Governor Romney … he's counting on you forgetting that his policies aren't going to work. He's hoping that you won't remember and you'll come down with a case of what we call 'Romnesia'. |
| I don't think any male politician should be making healthcare decisions for women. I don't think your boss or your insurance company should be making those decisions for you either. I believe women are capable and should make their own healthcare decisions for themselves. | I don't think any male politician should be making healthcare decisions for women. I don't think your boss or your insurance company should be making those decisions for you either. I believe women are capable and should make their own healthcare decisions for themselves. |
| Romney's greatest hits from the trail | Romney's greatest hits from the trail |
| Mitt Romney has been touting his "five-point plan" for the long haul, but over the last few weeks he has doubled-down, referring to his five steps to economic recovery at every rally opportunity. From taking advantage of all of America's natural resources – all of them – to giving a leg up to small businesses, here are his top lines while on the campaign trail. | Mitt Romney has been touting his "five-point plan" for the long haul, but over the last few weeks he has doubled-down, referring to his five steps to economic recovery at every rally opportunity. From taking advantage of all of America's natural resources – all of them – to giving a leg up to small businesses, here are his top lines while on the campaign trail. |
| We're going to take advantage of our coal, our gas, our nuclear, our renewables. | We're going to take advantage of our coal, our gas, our nuclear, our renewables. |
| We're going to open up new markets for trade … I will open up trade particularly in Latin America to get more good jobs in this country. And by the way, I'm going to crack down on China when they cheat – they can't steal our jobs with unfair practices. | We're going to open up new markets for trade … I will open up trade particularly in Latin America to get more good jobs in this country. And by the way, I'm going to crack down on China when they cheat – they can't steal our jobs with unfair practices. |
| When it comes to jobs and the economy the president's agenda is more of the same. … He calls it going forward, I call it 'forewarned'. | When it comes to jobs and the economy the president's agenda is more of the same. … He calls it going forward, I call it 'forewarned'. |
| I will not raise taxes on middle class Americans and I will not raise taxes on small business. | I will not raise taxes on middle class Americans and I will not raise taxes on small business. |
| If I get elected president, we're going to repeal Obamacare and put in place real reforms that help reel in the cost of healthcare. | If I get elected president, we're going to repeal Obamacare and put in place real reforms that help reel in the cost of healthcare. |
| We're going to champion small business. … I'm going to help small businesses with lower taxes, regulations that help small business, and of course we're going to help small business by repealing Obamacare – it kills jobs. | We're going to champion small business. … I'm going to help small businesses with lower taxes, regulations that help small business, and of course we're going to help small business by repealing Obamacare – it kills jobs. |
| I'm going to meet regularly with Democrats and Republicans to work together to solve our problems. | I'm going to meet regularly with Democrats and Republicans to work together to solve our problems. |
| We're going to make sure our people have the skills they need to succeed. There are 47 different federal government training programs, reporting to eight different government agencies. Think of all the waste and the bureaucracy. I want to take that money and give the fair share of it to [insert battleground state name]. | We're going to make sure our people have the skills they need to succeed. There are 47 different federal government training programs, reporting to eight different government agencies. Think of all the waste and the bureaucracy. I want to take that money and give the fair share of it to [insert battleground state name]. |
| We're going to cut federal spending – we're going to cap federal spending and finally get us on track to a balanced budget. | We're going to cut federal spending – we're going to cap federal spending and finally get us on track to a balanced budget. |
| I will make sure it's time to put our kids and our parents and the teachers first, and the teachers' union behind. | I will make sure it's time to put our kids and our parents and the teachers first, and the teachers' union behind. |
| I will not cut our military – we will keep our military second to none. | I will not cut our military – we will keep our military second to none. |
| It's time for a big change. And Paul Ryan and I represent a big change for America. | It's time for a big change. And Paul Ryan and I represent a big change for America. |
| Compare Romney and Obama's plans and promises from the 11th hour to their overall campaign narrative: check out our previous campaign promises feature. | Compare Romney and Obama's plans and promises from the 11th hour to their overall campaign narrative: check out our previous campaign promises feature. |
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