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bedsitter23At this point, i have been following things close enough that I can actually provide some real insight, so I accidentally stumbled on something while talking to a friend on the phone.
Unless you are one of the few people who have their feet on the ground (like the Des Moines Register's Kathie Obradovich), then you are just a person who is reading those dispatches and reporting on them. So thus, I am not that far removed from doing what Chris Matthews or Rush Limbaugh does.
It also should be noted that nothing is original, and what I am going to share is someone else's observation. Political writing is often taking others words and refocusing on it. Where I feel that I am falling into the category of 'real insight' is that I am not hearing anyone else say this right now. In fact, my observation is based on a view that was observed over six months ago.
So, here it is:
Mitt Romney is only good when he's not in the lead.
Observe.
In 2007, he made his appearance on the Presidential scene as the guy who seemed destined to be President. He arrived with a resume and a reputation that painted him as the clear cut favorite.
What happened? Well, despite being the favorite and despite buying everyone barbeque, from the Ames Straw poll until caucus night, Romney's support crumbled bit by bit, until unthinkably he lost to Mike Huckabee.
Four years later, in a field now void of the likes of McCain and Giuliani, once again, Romney was the instant favorite.
Romney led early polls and was again the inevitable nominee, though again, the masses loved him, but were not in love with him. Story after story appeared where prominent Republicans were reaching out to Govs. Chris Christie, Mitch Daniels, Rick Perry and ex-Gov. Sarah Palin.
As you remember, Perry did decide to win and became the favorite. A fighting tough Romney slowly worked his way back up the polls, with his debate performances, and slowly working over Perry and a series of serious contenders like Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich.
The story doesn't end there. It should. At Christmas, it appeared that Romney would end up with a respectable victory, beating out his most serious contender, Ron Paul. As we know, that didn't happen. On election night, his victory was an eight-point squeaker past Rick Santorum; though a closer count would actually reveal Rick Santorum as the actual winner with 34 more votes than Mitt.
So, it seems the story is about to repeat again. Though you might argue that Romney never had the lead (If Romney was in first, then why in a poll in a battleground state like Iowa last week give Obama an eight point lead 51-43), after debate #1 and some Libya controversy, it certainly appeared that Mitt was once again in the driver's seat.
The door is closing on that opportunity given by those events. Both men went into the third debate as if this was now Romney's to lose, and sure enough, it's a pretty universal consensus that Obama had the better night. in a few days, Romney will once again be in a role that might be preferable in regards to his style of campaigning. The question would be if the timing is right.
Unless you are one of the few people who have their feet on the ground (like the Des Moines Register's Kathie Obradovich), then you are just a person who is reading those dispatches and reporting on them. So thus, I am not that far removed from doing what Chris Matthews or Rush Limbaugh does.
It also should be noted that nothing is original, and what I am going to share is someone else's observation. Political writing is often taking others words and refocusing on it. Where I feel that I am falling into the category of 'real insight' is that I am not hearing anyone else say this right now. In fact, my observation is based on a view that was observed over six months ago.
So, here it is:
Mitt Romney is only good when he's not in the lead.
Observe.
In 2007, he made his appearance on the Presidential scene as the guy who seemed destined to be President. He arrived with a resume and a reputation that painted him as the clear cut favorite.
What happened? Well, despite being the favorite and despite buying everyone barbeque, from the Ames Straw poll until caucus night, Romney's support crumbled bit by bit, until unthinkably he lost to Mike Huckabee.
Four years later, in a field now void of the likes of McCain and Giuliani, once again, Romney was the instant favorite.
Romney led early polls and was again the inevitable nominee, though again, the masses loved him, but were not in love with him. Story after story appeared where prominent Republicans were reaching out to Govs. Chris Christie, Mitch Daniels, Rick Perry and ex-Gov. Sarah Palin.
As you remember, Perry did decide to win and became the favorite. A fighting tough Romney slowly worked his way back up the polls, with his debate performances, and slowly working over Perry and a series of serious contenders like Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich.
The story doesn't end there. It should. At Christmas, it appeared that Romney would end up with a respectable victory, beating out his most serious contender, Ron Paul. As we know, that didn't happen. On election night, his victory was an eight-point squeaker past Rick Santorum; though a closer count would actually reveal Rick Santorum as the actual winner with 34 more votes than Mitt.
So, it seems the story is about to repeat again. Though you might argue that Romney never had the lead (If Romney was in first, then why in a poll in a battleground state like Iowa last week give Obama an eight point lead 51-43), after debate #1 and some Libya controversy, it certainly appeared that Mitt was once again in the driver's seat.
The door is closing on that opportunity given by those events. Both men went into the third debate as if this was now Romney's to lose, and sure enough, it's a pretty universal consensus that Obama had the better night. in a few days, Romney will once again be in a role that might be preferable in regards to his style of campaigning. The question would be if the timing is right.
