July 19, 2012 by David K. Sutton
Poll: Majority of Americans think Romney should release more tax returns
A USA Today/Gallup poll finds that 54% of Americans think Mitt Romney should release more tax returns, including nearly one-third of Republicans polled. 75% of Democrats and 53% of independents think Romney should release more tax returns.
Those surveyed are divided on whether the likely Republican nominee is trying to hide anything. While 42% predict the release of additional returns would not reveal anything politically harmful, 44% believe it would include damaging information — including 15% who say they believe the revelations would be so serious that they would “show he is unfit to be president.”
Romney is not going to win this battle. In fact, because he’s chosen to be defiant he’s now put himself into a position where he can’t win either way, especially if there is something in his tax returns that is politically damaging. Had he gotten ahead of it and released those returns months ago, the issue would have quieted down by now assuming the things he doesn’t want us to know about aren’t campaign ending. It’s his defiance that continues the speculation that there is something serious to hide.
The situation was not helped today when Ann Romney said on Good Morning America, “We’ve given all people need to know and understand about our financial situation and about how we live our life.” That’s not exactly a diplomatic response given her husband is running for President of the United States.
I’ve lost count of how many days this story has been front and center and now in the last couple of days Mitt Romney has tried to get tough with his campaign rhetoric, which includes using the word “foreign” to describe President Obama and his policies. Of course, we know what the word “foreign” is code for. Yes, the Romney campaign his already in the gutter, grasping at anything to try to change the subject.
Amazingly, presidential election polls still have Obama and Romney statistically tied. Yes, half the country will still vote for Romney regardless. Liberals, progressives and Democrats need to keep that in mind if they are thinking about skipping this election.
