I campaigned for Mr. Romney when he ran for Governor of Mass. I was invited to his inaugural ball, and don't think I've ever seen the man squirm so much he did when Conductor Keith Lockhart handed him his baton and asked him to conduct the Boston Pops playing the "Stars and Stripes Forever" :lol:
Romney's 2002 Gubernatorial campaign was brilliant. His positive ads were inspiring. His negative ads were incisive and largely non-partisan. His debates were lively. He ended his final debate witha specific appeal to the independent voters of Mass, saying something like "I'm going to be your voice. I don't owe anything to the lobbyists, or the insiders, or the special interests. I have private sector experience creating jobs." It was a message that resonated with a lot of people.
The Gov. Romney that I am seeing today is not the same person. His speech is tightly compressed and constructed, more rhetoric than persuasion. I'm not saying that's a failing of the man -- I think it speaks more about the political climate of the day. His message is polished, but I do not think it is as endearing. I'm not seeing the person with bold ideas, I'm seeing a person molded to what the RNC wants you to see. That may be a necessary thing to participate in such a campaign? But I don't know if it will be a successful thing.
Some pundits said after the debate that this was a chance to get to know him a bit better, that they did not know Mitt very well. But the people that know him best seem a bit nonplussed. It may not be a surprise that he is not going to win his home state of Massachusetts, but he is also is not going to win his other home state of New Hampshire. He spends a good deal of time in Wolfeboro, where he owns a gorgeous 13 acre spread on Lake Winnipesaukee.
Given our state senate and house of representatives are majority Republican, both our U.S. Representatives, and our junior senator are Republican, I think we've shown very clearly that Republican voices are welcome here.
Yet President Obama has a huge lead on him in New Hampshire, nearly as large as his lead in Massachusetts.
I'm not yet hearing much from Gov. Romney that is swaying the people who are deciding this election: the independent voters from battleground states.