MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:
There's a new political ad out today from the Democratic National Committee. It highlights what Democrats consider Mitt Romney's greatest weakness: his inconsistency. NPR's Brian Naylor reports.
BRIAN NAYLOR, BYLINE: The ad is called "Mitt versus Mitt." It's running on TV stations reaching six swing states. Winning those states is key to President Obama's hope of winning a second term. And even though Republicans have yet to choose their nominee, it's clear Democrats believe Romney will be their opponent next November. The 30-second spot is done in the style of a movie trailer.
(SOUNDBITE OF A POLITICAL AD)
NAYLOR: The ad contains clips of Romney contradicting himself - once pro-abortion rights, now favoring overturning Roe versus Wade; once a supporter of health-care exchanges crucial to health-care reform, now promising to repeal what he calls Obamacare. The Democrats have a website that contains a four-minute director's cut with many more examples of what they call Romney's flips-flops on everything from immigration to the auto bailout.
Terry Madonna, director of Franklin and Marshall's Center for Politics and Public Affairs in Pennsylvania, says Romney polls well among swing-state, independent voters. The Democrats' new ad, he says, is aimed at those voters.
TERRY MADONNA: What they're attempting to do is to show that Romney has changed his positions. He's a flip-flopper, and especially flip-flopping on issues where he's turned more conservative than he really is. Translation: That will not sit well with swing voters, who will find those positions not consistent with their own.
NAYLOR: The Democrats' new ad follows a spot from Romney attacking the president's handling of the economy. And it's a further indication that both sides are already engaged in the general election campaign even though for Romney, it may be a bit premature. Brian Naylor, NPR News, Washington. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
