Mitt Romney has lost his central asset: it is no longer obvious that he is the Republican with the best chance of defeating President Obama.
“Romney was never fully trusted or liked by the staunchest conservatives, a rather large Republican constituency. But until now, enough of them have been willing to swallow their doubts at critical moments because they believed the former Massachusetts governor was the one potential nominee who could win the election.
This is not true anymore. Reflecting the damage Romney’s image has suffered in the six weeks since voting started in Iowa, he is running little better than Rick Santorum, now his main opponent, in match ups with the president. And both of them are losing.
In the latest New York Times/CBS Poll, released on Tuesday, Romney was behind Obama by six points, while Santorum trailed by eight — a margin-of-error sort of difference. By contrast, the struggling Newt Gingrich trailed by 18 points. Similarly, a recent Pew Research survey found Romney behind Obama by eight points, Santorum was losing by 10, and Gingrich by 18. And a Public Policy Polling survey actually found Santorum running a net two points better than Romney against the incumbent.
As long as Gingrich was his main competitor, Romney had a potent electability argument. But Santorum can say that since he is more or less equally strong against the president, conservatives might as well vote their convictions and their hearts.” (National Memo, E.J. Dionne).
Romney’s career at Bain Capital is now, at best, a mixed asset. The attacks on Romney’s business background from Gingrich and from Rick Perry, while he was a candidate, created an entirely new dialogue about Romney’s wealth, the low tax rates he pays, his offshore accounts, and the larger question of whether Romney can appeal to the white working-class voters who are so vital to a Republican victory., particularly in the Midwest.
Romney’s wealth will and shady tax dealings will become a real problem should the electorate focus on growing disparity between wealth and income. By contrast, Santorum’s working-class roots serve him well in this new environment.
“The worst part for Romney is that the best case against Santorum on the matter of electability involves the former Pennsylvania senator’s positions on social issues, which are well to the right of the center. Yet if he goes after Santorum as too socially conservative to win in the fall, Romney risks casting himself as to Santorum’s left on social and moral questions. And it is precisely Romney’s image as an inconstant conservative that created an opening for Santorum on the Republican right in the first place. (National Memo, E.J. Dionne)
Some pundits believe Romney has to hope Obama will start going after Santorum but, due to some Pennsylvania baggage that Obama could use against Santorum in the election, Obama is better off not helping Romney win the nomination.
Passing Through . . . . 