Gary Pearce posted on September 10, 2012 14:52
Mitt Romney must think his campaign is in serious trouble. Why else would he promise to keep some of Obamacare and not cut taxes for the wealthy? Two 180s in one 30-minute talk show!
How long will it take before the Tea Party forces him to re-retreat?
There is a great irony at the heart of Romney’s campaign. If he could run as what he is – a moderate Republican and successful businessman – he’d be a strong candidate.
But he has three things weighing him down – perhaps fatally.
First, the Obama campaign has turned his business career – and his wealth – into a negative.
Second, it’s hard to blame Obama for the economy when voters know the problems started under a Republican President and that Republicans in Congress have refused to work with Obama.
Third, Romney is held captive by a far-right faction that seized control of the Republican Party.
The Democratic Convention drove home all three points. At the end, President Obama not only opened up a significant lead in the polls, but also moved his approval ratings moved into positive territory.
It would take a politician as deft as, say, Bill Clinton to overcome all that. And Romney is no Bill Clinton.