Given that Mitt Romney just spent $36 million dollars of his own money to net just 294 Republican Convention delegates, his play book needs to be looked at with the arched eyebrow Romney seems to be so pleased to show the American people--in his uniquely posed and photogenic way.
Nonetheless, his was the most successful campaign against John McCain and so there may well be at least two recurring themes Romney sounded that Obama and Clinton can begin honing as they approach the general campaign:
- THE MCCAIN FLAME. McCain has a major temper that can get him in big trouble very quickly.
- IT'S THE ECONOMY, (and he's) STUPID. McCain admits that he's not as well versed on the economy as he should be and has said he wants to recruit economic expertise in the VP spot to shore up his lack in this area.
Gee, it's sure lucky for McCain that no one's going to be worried about the economy this Fall, isn't it?
http://ap.google.com/...
WASHINGTON (AP) — It always sounded innocuous enough, tucked into the adjectives Mitt Romney would rattle off when he described the qualities for the next president.
Wisdom, optimism and the right temperament, said the former Republican presidential candidate.
There was no doubt whom Romney was referring to — rival and likely GOP nominee John McCain, whose short-fuse temper is widely known, especially among his Senate colleagues.
The dig that McCain lacks the comportment to be commander in chief was part of the playbook that Romney used in his unsuccessful bid to secure the Republican nomination. Now it provides a piece of the playbook for either Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton or Sen. Barack Obama in a general election campaign against the four-term Arizona senator.
Among the weaknesses that Romney criticized:
_McCain's admission that he was better versed in foreign affairs and military matters than economic issues.
_McCain's flip-flops both philosophically and on specific issues.
_McCain's alignment with Democrats on taxes, illegal immigration, campaign finance and environmental issues.
As polls showed voters more concerned about the economy than other issues, Romney argued that a key difference between him and McCain was in their financial ability.
McCain told reporters last November that among the qualities he might seek in a running mate is someone with a firm grasp of economics. "You also look for people who maybe have talents you don't, or experience or knowledge you don't, as well," the senator said.
In December, McCain again told reporters: "The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should."
MORE: http://ap.google.com/...
Please insert your own favorite McCain Flame and Economic Pain stories.