Mitt Sixpack

posted at 11:44 am on January 23, 2012 by Karl

That doesn’t sound quite right, does it? As Erick Erickson noted:

In South Carolina exit polls, Romney wins only the “moderate or liberal”, those with incomes in excess of $200,000.00, those with postgraduate education, those who oppose the tea party movement, and those who think religion does not matter at all.

A number of those have been consistent through Iowa and New Hampshire too.

Fairly or not, Romney seems to have have a wealth problem, exploitable by his rivals now and Team Obama if Mitt gets the nomination. Oddly, I find myself in agreement with both Erickson and John Heilemann that Romney needs to: (a) “refine his message, not sharpen his knives”; and (b) get comfortable, and quick, in talking about his money issues. In particular, I would advise Romney to go beyond defending the free market in response to the Bain Capital issue. That approach appeals to the right, but the abstract principle may not move the casual voter, particularly the blue-collar casual voter. Romney’s plan to compare Bain’s work to the GM bailout if he becomes the nominee still puts him in the role of “bailout guy,” which is probably not the best frame this year.

Perhaps Romney should compare his role at Bain to being a doctor. Sometimes, doctors get to deliver babies or cure sick children who go on to live full and productive lives. In those cases, the doctor gets to feel great. So it is with some companies, like Staples or Domino’s Pizza. In other cases, the patient is so injured or so sick that they have to lose or limb, or even die. The doctors try as hard as they can, but sometimes all the lifesaving measures known to mankind are not enough and the doctors feel terrible about it. So it is when companies get rightsized or go bankrupt.

Some may think doctors are overpaid, but no one would want to live in a society without them. Mitt Romney is never going to seem like Mitt Sixpack, but he may be able to come across as caring more about more blue-collar families.

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Comments

I really like the doctor metaphor–if he used it, it might help gain him some supporters. Or at least lose him some detractors.

Unrelated:
When I read the headline, I initially thought it was going to be a commentary on the physical fitness of Romney’s abdominal muscles.

Mr. Prodigy on January 23, 2012 at 11:55 AM

I don’t fit into Erickson’s SC poll statistics there, but I don’t live in SC, either, nor voted there (meanwhile, the rest doesn’t all fit who I am, either).

Religion does matter to me, but I’m not thinking I’m going to marry a President or a nominee, and, I rather doubt Gingrich’s sincerity in his conversion claims — if they’re sincere, time will tell but so far he’s running very close to “conversion due to necessity to gain public approval” and not because he’s found the Savior, Jesus Christ, nor accepted Him as such. Could be, could not be, thus I say, time will t ell.

Meanwhile, I prefer a man in the Presidency who has a proven character track and Gingrich is not that man.

Romney has a stable, great family and family life. That speaks very loudly to me as to who he is, character0siwse, and, he’s led a contributory life in both his commercial interests and involvements and in his personal life, as to his faith and family and those he encounters. I place a lot of credibility in that.

I AGREE that Romney needs to sharpen his message, not his knives.

But we clearly are seeing another media-attack with Gingrich involved on Romney if not also on the GOP itself. More incentive for me to dislike Gingrich, not to dislike Romney.

Lourdes on January 23, 2012 at 12:00 PM

AND, despite his debate snarling talent, Gingrich is coming off as a very nasty, mean, and therein dishonest character in his campaigning with his destructiveness about Romney. I don’t care for Gingrich and dislike the man even more eveer day his nastiness continues.

And Gingrich’s personal life DOES matter. As does Romney’s . The only difference is that Gingrich’s is awful while Romney’s is excellent.

Lourdes on January 23, 2012 at 12:02 PM

“Perhaps Romney should compare his role at Bain to being a doctor. Sometimes…the patient is so injured or so sick that they have to lose or limb, or even die. The doctors try as hard as they can, but sometimes all the lifesaving measures known to mankind are not enough and the doctors feel terrible about it.”

Then again, perhaps he should *not*:
Doesn’t the phrase “I like firing people!” ring a bell?!?

Then again, this is the guy who tries to convince us he is pro-LIFE and pro-CHOICE…who says you can’t have it all?!? (/S)

Romney is a non-credible PolitiBot, pre-programmed by his committee of pollsters, who write the script lines Romney so often poorly delivers. Romney is simply unpersuasive. The guy even visibly shows “liberal guilt” about his own wealth on the stage. Surely he’ll improve in later appearances, but only because his script writers altered the text (just don’t ask Mitt what it means…much less if he believes in it).

With Gingrich, WYSISYG.
UNLEASH GINGRICH IN 2012!

Czar of Defenestration on January 23, 2012 at 12:46 PM

“Doctor” Romney?!? Calling Jack Kavorkian!

Czar of Defenestration on January 23, 2012 at 12:48 PM

” Mitt Kevorkian to the white phone! Mitt Kevorkian to the white phone!” I like the sound of that! And, what could go wrong? Mitt’s campaign needs to get this up and running STAT! Heh heh.

bigmike on January 23, 2012 at 3:57 PM

And Gingrich’s personal life DOES matter. As does Romney’s . The only difference is that Gingrich’s is awful while Romney’s is excellent.

Lourdes on January 23, 2012 at 12:02 PM