Blog Credo

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.

H.L. Mencken

Monday, January 9, 2012

Today In Mittens


The Internet is abuzz with the various attacks being leveled at Mitt Romney.

There is a "film" out from Newt's Super PAC that, as someone said over at Balloon Juice, could've been made by MoveOn.org.  Perry is going after Bain Capital, too.

I wonder why they waited until now to level this attack.

The simplest explanation is that it has taken them this long to realize that "vulture capitalist" is not a good thing, people don't like them and therefore, contrary to Gingrich and Perry's personal beliefs about Wall Street, they are going to unload on this angle of attack.

I think it's a good angle.  Of course, I think this as a Democrat and economic populist.  I do think this message could resonate in South Carolina, but it might have even had some traction in New Hampshire, if the freaking primary wasn't tomorrow.

The more people get to know Mitt Romney, the less they seem to like him.  The press doesn't like him, the other candidates don't like him, McCain hates him so much, he accidentally endorsed Obama the other day.

This is exactly the sort of scorched earth tactic I expected from Newt earlier.  And for Perry, it makes the most sense, since he can somewhat plausibly run as a populist, since he's clearly not an intellectual.

Tomorrow night, it's all about 40%.  I think that's the magic number for Romney.  Over 40%, then someone else has to win South Carolina.  Under 40% and the conversation becomes "Why can't Romney seal the deal?"

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