David S. Broder describes the fuhrerbunker-like gloom that hangs over the waterfront headquarters of a besieged Team Romney

September 18, 2007 in 2008, campaign finance, campaign literature, campaign management, election 2008, GOP, incompetence, media, mitt romney, polls, republicans, rhetoric, romney, strategy, stupidity, the dark soul of Mitt Romney, triumph of unreason
Tags: Justin Hart

BOSTON — At the waterfront headquarters of Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign, the passage of Labor Day marked a major milestone in the candidate’s long-standing strategy for winning the Republican nomination, writes the tedious and tiresome David S. Broder in an op-ed appropriately titled Romney’s Master Plan.

The former Massachusetts governor has approached the challenge of his dark-horse candidacy with the mind-set of a corporate turnaround specialist — the work he did for years at Bain Capital. Thinking as a venture capitalist, he set specific goals and a timetable — and so far, he is on track …

… But several hours of conversation with the leaders of the Romney campaign left the impression that they have a clear understanding that larger challenges remain — establishing his personal credibility against charges of flip-flopping and finding broader themes that might enable him to consolidate support as the field narrows …

… It will be up to Romney to rebut such assertions by demonstrating that his convictions are real. Beyond that, his advisers see a need for him to set forth a vision of a Romney presidency that is broader and more comprehensive than anything voters have heard so far. It is significant to them that Romney’s support in Iowa and New Hampshire has plateaued at 30 percent or so over the summer — a good but not sufficient base … more

Read between the lines, effendis. E.g.: Ponder in your hearts that according to Broder, Romney’s own advisers—Romney’s own people, those entrusted with providing Romney the data and the analysis necessary for Romney to make effective decisions—claim that Romney has yet to “set forth a [broader] vision of a Romney presidency!”—yet Romney claims to have announced over “50 new policy proposals” since January of 2007, as touted by Justin Hart on race42008.com in a post titled The Romney 50—and he announces all 50 policy proposals without benefit of a “broader vision!?”—how can you develop policy without principle? Broder links Romney’s policies-void-of-principle to Romney’s sagging poll numbers. But we would offer other hypotheses to account for Romney’s non-performance. Please see:

• the Romney electoral Schlieffen Plan halts and sputters—can more cash save it?
• Romney sees few viable options in early electoral strategy
• Romney campaign in total free-fall; Utah finance co-chair forced to resign; national finance co-chair indicted; campaign US$9,000,000.00 in debt

yours &c.
dr. g.d.

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