Chris Matthews: Will White Women Make Or Break The Election This Year?

No matter how much everyone would love this election to be about fun little controversies, the bottom line is the economy will be a major factor in deciding whether Barack Obama or Mitt Romney will win in November. Chris Matthews talked about the economy with his panel today, but also brought up a group that hasn’t been talked about much since the days of the War on Women (2012-2012). Given a recent poll showing a vast majority of white women are concerned about their children’s futures, Matthews asked if they would help decide this election for either candidate.

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Matthews thought the two candidates were going at it just a bit too hard when the election isn’t for another five months. National Journal‘s Major Garrett said that the earlier the Obama campaign can rebut Romney’s claim to be an economic “Mr. Fix-it,” the better for them, because right now Romney has the advantage “both rhetorically and structurally.”

Matthews found it odd that Obama’s one line now seems to be “I’m the only guy you got, the other guy’s not qualified,” since it doesn’t exactly inspire enthusiasm.

After watching Obama go after Romney’s ties to Bain Capital, New York Times writer Helene Cooper observed that the president’s “best bet” is to keep branding Romney as a “heartless private equality” businessman who destroyed jobs. Of course, Matthews and Cooper both noted that Cory Booker‘s comments last week sort of “threw a monkey wrench” into the campaign.

Of course, the economy does have a human impact, and assuming we can pigeonhole groups without question here, white women, one of the most vied-for demographics in the campaign, are overwhelmingly concerned about the economy. AP reporter Kasie Hunt said that Romney is trying to reach these voters by assuring them he is a “safe and competent” alternative in these volatile economic times.

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Matthews and TIME columnist Joe Klein found Romney’s “community organizer” hit against Obama amusing because it’s such an old attack, but more seriously, Klein argued the reason Romney’s business experience isn’t a shining beacon of capitalism is because it was all about “short-term” solutions and “

maximizing shareholder value.” Garrett added that if framed in the right way, it could sound “predatory” and the Obama campaign could easily ask “Do you want a predator as your president?”

And, not for nothing, but if the stuff about Obama being an illegal Kenyan immigrant doesn’t die down, we could have some serious Alien v. Predator undertones this year.

Watch the full segment below, courtesy of NBC: