Mitt Romney’s Debate Problem
I’ve been thinking about the upcoming Presidential debates and have realized Mitt Romney has a problem. He’s a horrible debater. I’ve been looking over the videos and news articles after each primary debate and am left with the same conclusion: Mitt Romney has very few shining moments. And even if you remove his gaffes (10,000.00 bet, self-deportation) he was sorta just there, blending into the background, trying not to say too much and avoiding specifics on everything. Basically, his strategy was to simply make it through the night.
And while basic survival was his debate strategy it wasn’t his only primary strategy. Here’s the way it went. Mitt struggled through the debates, rarely being declared the winner – and even when he was crowned it had more to do with one of his rivals slip-ups than anything he did. Overall, Mitt Romney went into the primary debates with one goal: Do No Harm.
And what did Romney’s “Do No Harm” strategy give us? A lackluster, vague debater who came across as a guy counting the minutes until the debate ended.
But Romney’s debate strategy was twofold. First, do no harm and struggle to make it through the night. Second… after the debate, unleash the SuperPacs and go after the primary opponent who “won” and destroy them. Watching Romney play the affable guy on the debate stage followed by flooding the airways with ads against his opponents designed to eviscerate was a bit disconcerting. Sure, that’s politics, but it’s worth noting that Romney didn’t win the Republican nomination by winning the debates. It’s also worth noting that Romney benefited by crowded primary field. The sheer number of people on the debate stage allowed Romney to take much needed breaks.
That won’t be the case when he goes up against President Obama. Romney will have to respond to every question, and spewing bumper sticker policy like “I’m For Freedom” isn’t going to cut it. He’s going to have to get specific about his policies. He’s going to have to explain his plan for Medicare/Health Care/Abortion/Taxes. Which is another reason to expect Romney to sink deeper into the political gutter – flirting with Birtherism was just the beginning. Everyone needs to buckle up.
Tags: 2012 Presidential, Mitt Romney
Great points. The “expectations” game will come into play. If Romney makes it through a debate without puking, he’ll have “won”. Meanwhile, Obama is smart and eloquent, so he will have to speak with the voice of an angel, make mother’s weep and fathers pound their chest with patriotic fervor to be declared the “winner”.
In reality (outside the spin room) Romney will probably try to have one big hay-maker in the can and hope he lands it. The rest of the time he’ll be trying to say how “angry” and “divisive” the President has been. He’ll be making unsubstantiated claims that the President has “failed” and we are suffering from a lack of leadership.
Agreed. Romney almost got beat by Rick Santorum, who is no great debater himself. Romney made up the difference with waves of TV advertising.
The Presidential debates are a great opportunity for Obama to neutralize some of Romney’s cash advantage. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Romney trying to limit the debate schedule.
Listening to the talking heads (I know, shame on me) the bar for Romney at the convention seems to be proving he’s human. He’s one nosebleed away from winning!
lol. Well put.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/2012-election/slugfest-sizing-up-the-obama-romney-debates-20120823
I read this a few days ago. It’s a pretty excellent analysis of what the debates could be like. Give it a shot if you have some time.
This guy makes the point that Romney is actually pretty good at debating, when he’s PREPARED. When he ad libs is when it all goes to hell. So the game may be the Obama campaign trying to knock Romney off his game while Romney prepares for every single debate situation under the sun.
Thanks for the link, V!
Here’s where I see Romney’s biggest problem: He doesn’t stand for anything anymore. How can he defend or promote policies he doesn’t admit having. You can only be a good debater if you take a side and back it up.
Great link V.