Democrats will use the three-day Democratic National Convention next month to contrast President Obama with a portrayal of Mitt Romney as someone who would “devastate the American middle class,†according to a news report Friday.
A convention planning document obtained by Politico said the convention in Charlotte, N.C., would focus on the choice for middle-class voters in November by using “real people†to highlight the differences.
The document said the convention would “expose Mitt Romney as someone who doesn't understand middle-class challenges†while also burnishing “the president's image as someone whose life story is about fighting for middle-class Americans and those working to get into the middle class.â€
The document also says the convention will feature several prominent Republican voices as a way of appealing to independent voters who will be critical to Mr. Obama's victory in the fal l, according to the report in Politico.
Aides to Mr. Obama confirmed the authenticity of the memo to The Caucus. But they said the document was several weeks old and that many of the plans could change substantially before delegates arrive in Charlotte at the beginning of September.
Ben LaBolt, a spokesman for Mr. Obama, declined to comment directly on the document but confirmed that it accurately described the overall message that the president wants to send while he formally accepts his nomination for a second term in the White House.
“A number of speaking programs are under consideration for the convention, and the only ones that are final are those that have been announced,†Mr. LaBolt said. “It's no secret that the convention will both present the president's vision and outline the choice that Americans will face in November.â€
That has been the core of Mr. Obama's campaign for months, making it no surprise th at the convention would revolve around that theme. But the planning document offered new details about how the party might structure the message.
Among the details in the document, according to Politico:
* The president's daughters, Sasha, 11, and Malia, 14, may say a few words about their father at the convention.
* Each night, “real people†will appear to show the differences in the policies of Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney.
* The first lady, Michelle Obama, will give remarks about her husband's values and “what his north star is.â€
* A “major Republican†or “notable G.O.P. woman†may be part of the convention on at least two of the nights.
Follow Michael D. Shear on Twitter at @shearm.
