2012 Decoded

Monday's headline in the Des Moines Register seems destined to echo throughout Iowa until Election Day: "Lines now drawn on wind tax credit: Romney opposes it, Obama favors it."

Rarely in presidential politics can such dichotomic declarations be made without the accompaniment of asterisks galore. But in this case, it was appropriate; the difference is truly cut and dried. On the question of extending the wind production tax credit -- an important issue for Iowans because of the roughly 7,000 jobs tied to the state's wind-energy industry -- the two candidates have made their positions perfectly (and diametrically) clear: Obama supports it and Romney does not.

Leaving no discernible wiggle room, Romney's Iowa spokesperson Shawn McCoy told the Register: "He will allow the wind credit to expire, end the stimulus boondoggles, and create a level playing field on which all sources of energy can compete on their merits. Wind energy will thrive wherever it is economically competitive, and wherever private sector competitors with far more experience than the president believe the investment will produce results."