This time around, the Romney campaign’s message to Republican primary voters appears to boil down to this: He may be an elitist, but he’s a heck of a lot better than the guy in the White House.

“Everything about him is elite, and I’m not sure if there’s a way for him to connect to some voters [in the base],” said one prominent Romney supporter with knowledge of the campaign’s strategy who requested anonymity to speak without Romney’s permission. “But he’s a smart, strong leader, and hopefully people will be able to see that.”…

“He may not be the guy Ohio voters want to sit down with and have a beer and eat chicken,” said Chuck Warren, a Republican political consultant in Utah who isn’t working for Romney but is impressed by his business credentials. “But look, he understands economics, he can help make some jobs, and hopefully he can get our country’s finances in order.”