The Dust Settles In Boston, A Long Campaign In The Books

Election Wrap – KWAM 990 AM

Election Day at Romney HQ

Previewing Election Day From Romney HQ

Hofstra Debate Reaction – The David Pakman Show

2012 RNC Photos

Mitt Romney Taps Paul Ryan As His Running Mate

Paul Ryan Unveiled As Romney's VP – KWAM 990AM

Mitt Romney – Hillsborough 'Bridge to Nowhere"

Shocked by the Humanity

The public cannot believe it has glimpsed the delicate and personal underpinnings of international relations.

Russia and America may not be entirely honest and open allies, but the reality of a globalized world is the inevitable cohabitation of relatives forces of suspected malice and purported sanctimony as determined by each of nearly 200 nations. This is complex stuff.

If Americans are truly concerned about Russia, it should be as an model of how not to prioritize free speech within society. Instead of fearing an outdated nuclear threat, Americans should look to the circumstances surrounding Putin's recent election and constitutional 'maneuvering' as a warning about misuse of power and its ability to silence public opinion.

The supposition that Obama's exchange is shocking behavior on the part of the President reveals the public's petty sensitivity to being excluded from the procedures of setting policy, and says little of its collective understanding of historical perspective. As evidenced by the tone of forum comments and blog posts criticizing Obama's leaked comments (a term I prefer to "gaffe"), there's a reason the vast majority of Americans are not consulted in foreign policy matters.

Setting a civil tone in domestic politics is a necessary place to start in sustaining this country's health. The feigned bafflement by politicians at the notion that the President conducts business of importance behind closed doors for the presumed benefit of our nation is a step in the wrong direction.

Santorum Upstages Gingrich, Romney in Southern Contests

Santorum's Strength Visible Ahead of Southern Primaries

Gingrich's Knoxville Rally & Super Tuesday Setup

Romney's Michigan Win Cools Talk of Brokered Convention

Romney Doesn't Get It

Mitt Romney's campaign released this video today following his narrow victory over Rick Santorum. Progressives, as well as the Santorum folks, encouraged Democrats to vote for Santorum in the Michigan Primary with the hopes of upsetting Romney in his home state...and it nearly worked.

But now, after what could have been a dramatic stand by his campaign, Santorum finds himself taking heat from Romney for "betraying the party" and involving Democrats in the primary race. I expect to hear a lot along these lines from Romney in the coming days. The funny thing is, Romney doesn't get it. The joke is on him.

Democrats didn't turn out to vote for Santorum because they see Romney as a strong candidate who needs to have a few barbs tossed his way in order to slow him down and make him an easy target for Obama. No, Democrats voted for Romney because it's evident how vulnerable he is, and that they sensed there's a very real opportunity to disrupt his path to the nomination. Romney proved his weakness by being so spooked by Santorum's tactics. Romney's campaign is in a tizzy over the threat of a few thousand crossover Democrats getting involved in a handful of open primary states. For a strong nominee, there's nothing those few Democrats could do to get in the way.

So how will Romney-supporting members of the GOP establishment react to what happened in Michigan? Perhaps by calling for the elimination of open primaries in the years ahead.

It's a trap! 



If this disappointing crop of Republican candidates has taught us anything, it's that the Republican Party is too ideologically close minded. When a Republican candidate comes along with true crossover appeal, the party needs to be able to see this in the primaries. If Democrats are truly are willing to break rank and vote for a Republican for ideological reasons, then it's important they be allowed to do so so that the Republican Party can nominate this unusually strong candidate with a good chance to win the presidency. By contrast, closing off party primaries to independents and Democrats only raises the walls of the Republican echo chamber.

Let me be clear, Rick Santorum did himself no favors with his robocalls targeting supposed "Reagan Democrats" in Michigan. Santorum should have left it to liberal talk show hosts to do the work of convincing activists to go out and vote for Santorum on their own initiative, which many did. Instead, he's now an easy target for his unsuccessful act of rebellion, and for the first time this election, there's actually a reason to vote for Romney in the eyes of conservatives frightened of the mere mention of Democrats. The narrative Romney voters can use going forward: "We don't want the Democrats deciding who our nominee should be, so we support Mitt."



But there used to be a time when Republican candidates did court Democrats. Santorum's pitch in Michigan was indeed a subversive one that played into the Democratic agenda of sabotaging Romney instead of any ideological affiliation with the candidate, but the very fact that so many Republicans maintain a principled stand against their candidates even acknowledging there are necessary voters to pursue outside of the collapsing GOP tent exposes just how weak their eventual nominee stands to be this Fall.

By contrast, Obama is a master of campaign strategy and a politician who dares to expand his appeal. His campaign demonstrates a bravery when it announces its pursuit of victories in difficult swing states, and his broad political appeal was proved in 2008 by the successful inroads he made among groups that typically lean conservative. That he pursues these challenging votes sincerely—while Santorum does so with an eye to disrupting Romney—and that a small cadre of Obama's loyal supporters understand the power of their influence over the President's Republican opponents shows just how much of an advantage Obama has in the upcoming election.

The Title Bout & Ron Paul's Caucus Strategy: Themes Leaving Florida

Romney's Positivity Problem

I take issue with Romney's "general election" primary strategy.

I sympathize with Governor Romney's opponents, and am compelled to voice the criticism they've chosen not to: that Romney has hardly earned the right to overlook Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul (as well as Jon Huntsman and Rick Perry previously) – all viable opponents — merely on account of his fund-raising ability and "organizational superiority."

So what was Mitt's answer in Thursday's debate when asked about his one regret from the election so far?

I guess I also would go back and take every moment I spent talking about one of the guys on the stage, and spent that time talking about Barack Obama, because -- (cheers, applause) -- the truth is that Barack Obama is just way over his head.

While his campaign stump speech sours with incessant repetition, Romney wants most to double down. How much do the American people want that? Probably about as little as they want Mitt Romney as the GOP nominee.

Voters in Florida weren't begging to hear from Mitt Romney before the other candidates, but Romney rolled out his campaign 'product' there on television weeks in advance of his opponents. His unwavering sales pitch, once effective and necessary in helping to increase his brand awareness around the country, seems with each passing speech to embody that instant response-o-meter type calculation, in which his every public utterance is hedged and noncommittal. Instead of risking anything in the hopes of scoring a winning moment (see: Gingrich), Romney takes his cues from others.



Romney ought to do more than turn to the crowd and hope they'll sense the inherent absurdity of "assaulting capitalism," as he feels Gingrich is doing — but it's unlikely crowds of displeased Republican voters will do this in the face of Newt's winning rhetoric. Romney should have stood by his decision to delay releasing his tax records like other candidates (such as Hillary Clinton) who did so by sticking to their guns and only doing so on their own terms. Following South Carolina, the word on the street is that Romney's vocal supporters were displeased with his inability to signal what his ultimate decision would be on the tax record issue. Instead of receiving a consistent message from the campaign and Romney himself, his surrogates were forced to offer recommendations about what they would do in Romney's shoes. That's hardly making life easy for your political supporters, as Romney's supposedly robust and competent campaign organization should be able to do.

Speaking on Fox News last weekend, Mike Huckabee addressed Romney's glaring inability to commit to a position on releasing his tax returns in the face of increasing pressure: "He's got to have the answer, and deliver it with strength." Ken Langone, the co-founder of Home Depot and an ardent supporter of Romney was also on Fox, playing off any criticisms of the candidate and instead citing Romney's marvelously-organized campaign as a testament to his leadership ability and the reason why the American people should support him.



Even those elected officials among Romney's supporters seem to offer strangely-justified praise for the candidate, and occasionally unhelpful campaign advice. Recent endorser Bob McDonnell, the promising and affable governor of Virginia, cites Romney's ground game and ability to "go the long haul" as the reason he broke for Romney this week, while Chris Christie seems to enjoy the prospect of added national exposure and a potential VP nod. The two men have also called on Romney to release his tax returns sooner rather than later.

These admirers of Romney ignore the fact that his general election opponent will run a far better campaign with the organizational ability that only the power of the Presidency can provide. On top of this, Obama has the added benefit of presenting a strong, consistent message across an entire ideological front. Romney may walk up to perfectly-positioned podiums with scripted backdrops of flashy campaign busses or American flags flanking him from all angles, but when he opens his mouth the gulf between his campaign's slick functioning or big name political friends and his personal inability to close the deal on his sales pitch reveals itself.

With the dynamics of the race having changed dramatically from what looked like a three-for-three string of Romney victories earlier this week to a disappointing one-for-three record after South Carolina, Mitt finds himself in a trap: now would be a great time for him to throw some punches and express even a minor chord of outrage at the prospect that Republicans are on the verge of passing him up for Newt Gingrich, but his long streak of being composed in the face of attacks and upbeat in response to challenges facing his candidacy have likely pigeonholed him into again putting his typical positive spin on what could be a very disappointing defeat in Florida next Tuesday.

Newt's Single File Lines vs. Mitt's Frantic Stage Rush

In the face of attacks, Gingrich presents a more palatable, humble campaign appearance to the public.

South Carolina and Youth Involvement [VIDEO]

South Carolina is behind us, and while the video above could be seen as well-worn in an era of instantaneous impressions and ADHD punditry, I find some of the things I didn't realize myself saying last Friday surprisingly relevant.

Even among students in a state whose college's have had a recent reputation as among the least politically-active in the country, there were certain signs emerging last week that portended the surprising result seen in Newt Gingrich's resounding victory in Saturday's primary.

With college Republican leaders affiliating themselves and involving themselves with the Gingrich campaign, there are signs that the Romney campaign is, across the board, less able or willing to accommodate young voices and talent into its operation. For Newt Gingrich to be successful going forward, he'll need volunteers to make the case for why he's uniquely qualified to be the Republican nominee at this confusing juncture in American politics.

Mitt Romney desperately needs to reinvigorate his own candidacy, while Newt Gingrich will have to count on trusted individuals within myriad constituencies across the country to sell his often controversial brand to fellow voters and overcome whatever perceived "negatives" he already has and will to continue to rack up.

If what I witnessed in South Carolina is any indication of how the race is trending for the coming weeks, Gingrich will have an easier time accomplishing his necessary task.

Mitt Romney – Charleston Area Convention Center Rally

View the complete gallery from the campaign stop in a full-screen slide show here.