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Boston, June 23, 2012: Although the debates over the public budget, debt and tax expenditure top the economic agenda in the media, the major TV networks have been silent on Obama and Romney´s tax policies – indicating that solutions to these issues may not be a voter concern, according the Media Tenor International.

“Romney has been vocal about wanting to scrap various deductions in the tax code and about lowering tax rates,” says Casey Smith, analyst at Media Tenor. “But he has been very vague about the logistics of carrying out his actual policies. So far, the media has not taken interest in these policy details.”

Of all the political coverage on the major TV networks, very little is still devoted to the economic issues that are driving consumer sentiment, but the overwhelming share of negative tonality from NBC, FOX and CBS is having more of an impact on Obama, who has proven vulnerable to consumer confidence.

“This election is less about the candidates and their actual policies than it is about wanting a change in power,” adds Smith. “The fact that the networks and journalists are not responding to Romney´s lack of detail in his policy solution to address the public deficit indicates that the media criticisms of Obama are enough to give Romney an advantage.”

In contrast to Obama, media coverage on economic issues related to Romney revolve around his own statements. Negative tonality from journalists and Romney on Obama are having an impact on Obama´s media image and poll ratings.

This week, Romney pulled ahead of Obama in the polls.

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