Perhaps Mr. Romney’s defeat had less to do with the place and more to do with the timing. It is not at all uncommon for voters to rebel against an “inevitable” nominee. In fact, it might be expected under the “More of the Same” paradigm.
IMO Romney's primary problem is a two-fold strategic error. He based his candidacy on his success at Bain which too many view as a corporate raid. It may have been a successful raid from a business point of view, but too many are not impressed that right or wrong - he appears to have made all the money. He also based his candidacy on his Massachusetts governorship that even Republicans now view as a failure.
To buttress these two concepts when it appeared to not be enough, he added being in charge of the Olympics for free. That sounds like a big party time. Heck I'd volunteer to run the Olympics for free, if all I got was a beautiful place to stay, free meals, and free seats to all the events for my family and buddies.
He has fire in his belly for the presidency. He can list what he views as his his successes and often does, but he cannot describe his plan for what ails the masses.
Romney is self-centered and that could work, but it isn't. He really does not understand common people and has no idea how to motivate them. I view the public statement yesterday that his tax returns will be released on Tuesday was a sign of great weakness. He caved to MSM pressure. If he wanted openness to be one of his themes he should have started out that way voluntarily.
The Dems and MSM have begun their attacks on him in Florida. A lot of Floridians are really hurting from the recession, lost jobs, and real estate losses. Telling them again, that while their ship was sinking, he made $350 Million at Bain, was the brainchild of Romneycare, and spent a year playing at all the Olympic venues is only going to piss them off.
It will be interesting to see if Romney can initiate a new theme and stunt like a Gingrich. He needs to. |
