Republicans zero in on Obama deficit problem

“First on CNN: RNC to zero in on Obama over debt

Posted by CNN's Ashley Killough

(CNN) - With the national debt now past the $15 trillion mark, the Republican National Committee is rolling out a new campaign blasting President Barack Obama for his handling of the situation.

The group unveiled a 23-page briefing book Thursday detailing what it describes as ways the president "has been AWOL on another chance to show leadership on the debt issue," according to Sean Spicer, communications director for the RNC.

Honing in on the $4.4 trillion in debt added since Obama took office, Republicans will focus their message on spending and the debt until next year's election, Spicer added.

Those efforts include promoting a #15Trillion hashtag on Twitter and the release of a new web video Thursday aimed at highlighting Obama's promise to tackle the debt "and his failed leadership." The RNC will also host a conference call with Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota at 11:30 a.m.

On Wednesday, RNC Chair Reince Priebus sent out a memo outlining the Republicans' strategy to blame Democrats over the nation's deficit problems.

"Let them know that Republicans have taken the task of deficit reduction seriously," Priebus wrote in the memo, according to the RNC.

The rollout comes one week before the so-called congressional super committee's deadline to come up with at least $1.2 trillion in cuts over the next decade to avoid across-the-board federal cuts that would begin in 2013.

If the committee fails to reach an agreement, a new CNN/ORC International Poll released Wednesday indicated that 42% of Americans would fault the Republicans in Congress, with 32% blaming the Democrats, and another one in five volunteering that they would hold both parties equally responsible.

The bipartisan deficit-reduction committee was a result of a deal reached between Obama and Congress in August when the government faced a deadline to raise the debt ceiling or go into default.

In August, Obama called on the committee to take a balanced approach of spending cuts and higher taxes for the "wealthiest of Americans."

"Since you can’t close the deficit with just spending cuts, we’ll need a balanced approach where everything is on the table," Obama said. "Yes, that means making some adjustments to protect health care programs like Medicare so they’re there for future generations. It also means reforming our tax code so that the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations pay their fair share."

– CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.”