By NORMAN M. COVERT
The locker room echoed with praise for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and it was almost with disdain that my friend and former colleague spat out the name of former Speaker of the House Newton Gingrich. How quickly the lockers slammed, the room emptied and showers came on.
“We have a group, ‘Vets for Mitt Romney,’ that is having a meeting … and we’d like to have you there,” he said.
Gov. Mitt Romney on the stump.
The event, I thought, might provide local information on the Romney campaign for these opinion pieces. It was noted in my best Dale Carnegie® fashion that there still is a long way to go until the November election.
The Romney campaign could fix itself, one supposes, but today it mirrors the hulk of a cruise ship off the coast of Italy. Governor Romney and his campaign apparatus, like the Costa Concordia, are on the rocks, regardless of the drum beat from entrenched “conservative” columnists.
Could I ever dispute the wisdom of Ann Coulter or Charles Krauthammer? Ann is her usual hard-charging self, but Charles is now easing the dogmatic tone of his GOP front-runner prediction. A nautical analysis would opine that Governor Romney needs to trim his jib.
Never a dulcet-toned orator, Governor Romney has become defensive and awkward on stage with whining intonation. His message ( “Rome” is burning and the President is fiddling) is only smoldering. Governor Romney’s political fortunes are tumbling downward, but with a multi-million dollar income, life can’t be all bad.
In contrast, Mr. Gingrich has dominated each debate, articulating issues with clarity and boldness. He has earned several standing “O’s” with declarations including his risky challenges to the mainstream media. His stock obviously is on the rise due to his message, but this is only January.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has turned up heat in GOP race.
My reaction to the Romney rally invitation recalls my retirement from political campaign work. Friendship will not change my mind. Gone are endless hours of brain storming at candidate’s dining room tables, keeping the books, producing talking points, writing speeches, designing and buying advertising and cute handouts.
I have solace being an election judge. It will be a couple long days of service in April and in November, the underlying mission akin to my days as a sports writer—never pick sides and never put yourself into the story. The job is to write about the game and make sure you put the score in the “lede.”
The gratifying result of being an election judge is ensuring registered voters may cast free ballots, secure and count the ballots, certify them, post them on the door outside the polling place and hand-carry the results to the election board.
Our team of judges witnessed a clear message in 2008 when candidate Barack Hussein Obama snookered the nation’s electorate (with an adoring mainstream media)—the Sen. John McCain/Gov. Sarah Palin ticket never had a chance! I can see Governor Romney and any running mate also headed for disappointment.
The eternal lesson is that a wannabee elected official is at the mercy of voters. They are final arbiters of your worthiness for public office. The brilliance of a campaign strategy and message is easily bounced by the common folk, who use an axe to cast their votes, telling you they simply don’t like you!
1948 Republican Presidential Candidate Thomas E. Dewey.
The 1948 election victory by President Harry S. Truman was said to have provided a lesson for future campaign managers that “your candidate” must shave off any facial hair. It is still conjecture among public relations/image professionals that Thomas E. Dewey’s mustache was a key negative in his surprise defeat.
The Dewey mustache issue was buttressed by the vision of 1960 Republican presidential candidate Richard M. Nixon. He appeared to need a shave during the broadcast of a 1959 presidential candidate debate. Stage lighting enhanced Mr. Nixon’s four-o’clock-shadow, offering stark contrast to the handsome Democrat candidate Rep. John F. Kennedy (D.- Mass.).
President Harry S. Truman gleefully brandishes Chicago newspaper erroneously claiming victory for Thomas E. Dewey in 1948 election.
That marked the turning point in Mr. Nixon’s campaign fortunes. It had more to do with insufficient stage lighting and lack of makeup than Nixon’s debating skills. Today’s candidates are liberally painted with pancake for today’s high definition television, its modern illumination highlighting every pore.
Regarding my friend’s invitation, I wrote down the date, telling him there is no front-runner in my mind. I am comforted to be one of the desired “Independents,” who apparently turned the South Carolina primary into a failing mid-term report card on the Romney campaign.
The debate in Florida scored another victory for Democrats and President Obama. The tenor of the “debate” featured two-sided vitriol about personal success and failure. It stoked the consuming bonfire that former President Ronald Reagan cautioned against—berating a fellow Republican. Governor Romney had guns blazing casting Mr. Gingrich’s professional and private life in the most despicable light. It has no redeeming value for the ultimate November challenge of Obama and obviously was little help to Governor Romney.
Then Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) has ear of President Ronald Reagan in White House in May 1985.
The field of GOP hopefuls at this writing is down to four. Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) hasn’t shown the pizzazz needed for any Presidential candidate, regardless of message. ‘Nuf said about Texas Congressman Ron Paul, whose pronouncements to the delight of his cult following, often hinge on the bizarre, as wind-blown as the tumbleweed on the prairie.
Mr. Gingrinch may be the only man left standing in this fight. He has the experience and knowledge base to mount a significant campaign against Obama, but not if his GOP friends continue to eschew forgiveness for sins of the past.
After all, we observe, perfection is in the eyes of the beholder and Mr. Gingrich’s indiscretions some 20 years ago apparently do not fit the candidate template touted by old-line GOP leadership. There is no “Favorite Son” waiting in the wings when the GOP primary destruction ends.
Either Governor Romney or Mr. Gingrich will be left bloody, perhaps even unbowed, when this closes out at the GOP convention in Tampa, Fla., Aug. 26-27.
Governor Mitt never really had his “mojo” in the 2008 campaign and he doesn’t appear to have it now. The beat is getting louder that “real” GOP leaders—the voters, may straighten out the Old Guard in Florida next week..—©Norman M. Covert 2012
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This commentary appeared in its original form at www.thetentacle.com Jan. 25, 2012 and is used with permission of the author and The Octopus, LLC.
You may contact Mr. Covert by writing: nmcovert@thecovertletter.com
I think your evaluation is spot on, but I’d add something. I don’t think either of these candidates can beat Obama. If Romney attacked Gingrich, you can bet the Democrats will.
To some degree Newt Gingrich deserves an attack on his character. A President needs to stay out of scandal. The last thing anyone needs is another Bill Clinton.
Romney can’t beat Obama. He might not even beat Gingrich.
Liberals might not be motivated to vote for Obama, but they would be highly motivated to vote against Gingrich. His fingerprints were on Bill Clinton back. Gingrich being the candidate might actually do Obama a favor.
Then we have Romney. The moderates are gonna yawn. He doesn’t energize the right much. The liberals shouldn’t hate him much more than they do Obama right now. That probably isn’t really gonna buy him much.
Maybe there just really isn’t too much to do but fiddle while Rome burns.
I appreciate your thoughtful comments. Certainly I see a war going on with no winner in sight.