Gingrich is having a good laugh while Mitt Romney continues to hold meetings and come up with new spread sheets and power points. Romney's operation does run like a computer, while Gingrich shuffles along with his wife, a few friends, sleeps in supporter's homes and making it up as he goes along.
Back during the Iowa straw poll this summer, I ran into Gingrich and his wife, Calista, at the Iowa State Fair. He had no staff or handlers. Later, at the airport, we ran into them again. No staff. Little has changed since in terms of structure, save a few long-time supporters. Gingrich will likely outrun his supplies lines.
Meanwhile, Romney looks like a man who can't understand why hungry dogs won't eat his dog food that he has spent millions test-marketing and taste testing. His incredulous manner with Brett Baier of FOX News over his health care plan as Governor of Massachusetts says much about what Romney must overcome to beat President Obama if he becomes the nominee.
After five years, Romney still does not understand messaging and marketing. He still does not grasp that the questions he is getting today will be questions he gets tomorrow through and up to the November, 2012 Election. Many business people who get into politics often resist accepting the sometime bizarre nature of politics. When they get asked a question by a reporter and answer it, they assume the reporter shares it with other reporters and that every voter has read it and checked it off their issue's list.
Romney acted as if Brett Baier hadn't read his 59-point economic plan or understood the complexity of the situation when Massachusetts adopted their state-run, insurance mandated health plan. When Romney signed it, the late Ted Kennedy was there to congratulate him. Romney did not do anything to dispel that image. Now he wants Conservatives to rip their shirts off like they did for Barry Goldwater at the Cow Palace in 1964?
Romney is smart, organized and actually, very personable and funny. But Romney is playing the campaign very safe, thinking that if he doesn't make any mistakes or gaffe's, Barack Obama will lose the Election because this Election is about Barack Obama. Conservatives don't believe in trying to trim along the edges. They, and I include myself in this thinking, think in black and white, good versus evil or light versus darkness.
Barack Obama has taken the country so far away from its founding principles that even moderate people are getting worried and are beginning to see what is going on. Obama still represents a good chunk of the voters who want the government to make things easy for them, wants to grab from some one's pocket or truly believe the government has most of the answers.
If anything, Gingrich will compel Romney to toughen up, to come out from under the soft light and put an edge to his banter. And don't count some other candidates from making a final impression or playing a role down the line.
The Iowa caucus is still wide open and always unpredictable. Congressman Ron Paul is capable of winning that or finishing second. Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum could finish in the top three based on his credentials with social Conservatives. If Romney worse than second and Gingrich comes close in New Hampshire, Gov. Rick Perry (my candidate) could emerge before the fight moves to Florida.
The good news for Romney is this - most people can see him as a President, more than capable of managing a federal bureaucracy, working with legislative leaders and being a solid role model. Elections, though, are about voter intensity and that is where Romney must find his inner Mitt to put the Newt away and get ready for Barry.
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