"If Mitt Romney's so bad," Stuart Stevens asked me, "why's he beating Barack Obama?" Romney had just finished up his rally in Newark, Ohio, and he was shaking hands in the sun-blasted courthouse square. Stevens, one of his top strategists, had ambled back to the press area to field questions, Coke can in hand, in the way that campaign big-shots will do when their guy is heating up. When the gaggle of reporters dissipated, I asked him whether he thought the five-day bus tour was an opportunity for Romney to shake loose from the rap that he's too stiff and doesn't connect. After all, I suggested, whatever Obama's weaknesses, he's never faltered on the who-would-you-rather-have-a-beer with scale. Stevens, betraying the soaring confidence of the Romney camp, wouldn't accept even that.
"I think that at this very moment," he said, "there's probably rarely been a candidate who connects as badly as President Obama. Until he addresses his failures on the economy and accepts responsibility, voters just won't listen to him." He peered through his Nike sunglasses and added: "Right now he's a terrible candidate."
"I just think that we went through this primary period of great retail politicking, 100 town halls or more, and Mitt Romney's very good at this," Stevens continued. "It's about being able to connect with people and talk about what matters, and he does that very well."
Those are bold words, even for a campaign adept at optimistic spin. But five months out from Election Day, the Romney campaign is delirious over what they're sure is an Icarus nosedive for the president. It's clear that they want a statement election -- not merely a 51-49 win but a run-the-table walloping that will send Obama into the history books as an undisputed calamity for America. Stevens wouldn't own up to that, of course, but you can see it in the swagger of the candidate and his retinue and you can hear it in the jokes they make. They believe Obama has made radical miscalculations not just in governing, but in positioning his campaign.
"One of the advantages in this race," Stevens said, "is that the Obama people don't respect Mitt Romney. And that's how the Republicans were with Bill Clinton, and it always hurt us. I can't tell you how many meetings I sat in in 1992 where it was like, 'are you kidding me? Bill Clinton is gonna beat George Bush? Do you know what the GDP of Arkansas is?'" The Romney family bus, parked nearby, cut on its engine with a throaty roar. "And then he went out and kicked our butts." We shook hands and Stevens departed with a smile.
By Reid Cherlin, GQ
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 |
 |
|
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Electoral Votes (270 to win) |
332 | 206 |
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 65,899,660 | 60,932,152 |
| Percent | 51.1% | 47.2% |
| Democrats* | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Current Senate | 53 | 47 |
| Seats gained or lost | +2 | -2 |
| New Total | 55 | 45 |
| Democrats | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Seats won | 201 | 234 |
Well Mr. Stevens...here ya go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnMynxNU6Kw&feature=related
Mitt responds to an audience member that Corporations are "people" and it would not be unfair to raise taxes on "Corporations" because they are "people."
OMG! Mr. Stevens are you from another planet?
Apparently Stuart Stevens doesn't listen to President Obama's campaign speeches. To say he (Obama) doesn't connect with the people is as wrong as his assumption the President is losing ground to Romney. With Obama, people know he's speaking sincerely from the heart and also know just how phony and alien Romney appears to the middle class and working poor. Even Romney's rich backers know he's phony and have problems with his plastic persona but, figure they have a better chance at practicing greed with him
Empire is not a good idea. Romney and the people living in his world care nothing about anyone but themselves. I just hope the American people see him for who he really is.
Debate Number One will teach Mitt Romney a little bit of much needed humility.
His money and upbringing will not help him on the debate stage.
President Obama has a keen mind, a razor sharp wit, and 6 years of Mitt's own words on every side of every issue.
Mitt will be tied into knots with his own statements. There is no way, no matter how low the bar might be set, for Mitt to emerge from the first debate unscathed.
He will be a more damaged, more detestable candidate in September.
"If I told you what I would do as president, I couldn't get elected."
"Corporations are people, my friend."
"I don't remember what I said, but I stand behind it, whatever it was."
"I love to fire the people who do work for me."
"These cookies don't look like they came from a bakery, they look like you got them at 7/11."
"The federal government should not be in the business of college loans, borrow from your parents."