Dave Weigel links to the Gallup poll that “Voters’ Reaction to Romney’s “47%” Comments Tilts Negative“:
… So, we’re only talking about a plurality. The lion’s share of voters are indifferent to the story. But there was a semi-popular theory, in the first 24 hours after the story broke, that voters might actually like the Romney comments. Multiple studies in multiple countries have found that most people think they’re middle class, even if they aren’t. Maybe these same people would embrace the “stuff it, moochers” argument!
Maybe they won’t.
But not to worry, Mr. Romney! Your Republican compatriots have many ideas as to how you can yet redeem your campaign! As Jonathan Chait explains, in NYMag:
… The upside of being a presidential candidate behind in the polls is that you get all kinds of thoughtful and workable proposals to right the ship. The solutions range from minor pedestrian issues of campaign mechanics to grand metaphysical decisions. Beginning with the former, some Republicans are upset that Romney is spending too much time raising money and not enough time holding rallies…
Other Republicans have more constructive advice, but only slightly more constructive. “Romney needs a big idea, then he needs to shift the debate to spending,” says GOP strategist Greg Strimple, declining to identify what the big idea would be. Peggy Noonan also has some practical advice:
What should Mitt Romney do now? He should peer deep into the abyss. He should look straight into the heart of darkness where lies a Republican defeat in a year the Republican presidential candidate almost couldn’t lose. He should imagine what it will mean for the country, for a great political philosophy, conservatism, for his party and, last, for himself. He must look down unblinkingly.
And then he needs to snap out of it, and move.
But where would he find this abyss? Is there one for sale? And what if he accidentally blinks? Does he have to start over? Would a series of shorter, more shallow peeks into the abyss possibly help, perhaps if he scheduled fund-raisers in between?
Bill Kristol advises Romney to “step down and we get the Ryan-Rubio ticket we deserve!” I suppose this might also happen if Romney tried the abyss thing and was somehow sucked into the vortex…
Well, given Bill “Always Wrong” Kristol’s record, we can predict one thing at least: Romney’s not stepping down. Dagnabit.
Rebecca Schoenkopf at Wonkette drew the short straw to report the opinions of John “Prolapsed Pig Rectum” Sununu. You should read her whole post, which is excellent, unlike anything that’s ever emerged from the angry little red wound of John Sununu.
Finally, Erick “Voice of the GOP Gated Commnity” Erickson was excited that “Mitt Romney’s Remarks are Another Chick-Fil-A Moment“:
Open Thread: GOP — Throw That Drowning Man Another Anvil!Post + Comments (110)