Live Q&As

I think part of Romney's definition issue is that to win the Republican nomination he had to cast himself as something he really isn't: an ideologue.

I think Romney is, by nature, a problem-solving, consensus builder not someone who takes his ball and goes home when people don't agree with his views.

But problem solving, consensus builders don't win presidential primaries -- see Joe Lieberman, Rudy Giuliani and so on and so forth -- so Romney emphasized his more conservative views during the primary (and with success).

As I wrote this morning though, I think now is the time -- in truth it's probably past time -- for Romney to embrace his fundamental nature as a problem solver and, tonally at least, a moderate.

You can read the whole piece here.

Obama 8 in terms of campaign strategy and tactics, 3 in terms of overall political environment.

Romney 3 in terms of campaign strategy and 8 in terms of overall political environment.

Campaigns are, largely, still conducted through 30 second ads. And that means that by definition things are taken out context.

Doesn't make it right. Just makes it reality.

Not at all.

Political history has shown that races can be unpredictable so it would be crazy to declare a race over with 46 days until election day.

I think it is fair to say two things:

1. Barack Obama is having the best 2 weeks of the last year (or so) of his campaign

2. Mitt Romney's path to 270 electoral votes is as narrow as it has ever been (although, in truth, it's never been terribly wide.)

Neither of those factors are determinative of the final outcome however. 

Yes.

This is the same reason why Democrats can't win in Texas or Arizona despite the large number of Hispanic voters.

Let's call him Mitt R.  No, M. Romney.

Obama would need to win the national vote by 3 or 4 points (I think) to swing the House to Democrats. Short of that sort of national wave -- and, amazingly, a 3-4 point national win would constitute a wave, I think Republicans hold on to the House.

I don't. If Republicans had nominated Santorum or Gingrich or Cain(!), maybe. But Romney is an absolutely credible messenger for the vast majority of people who are Republican or Republican leaning -- and that means a total blowout is VERY unlikely.

Loved almost all of it. Top of the list was "Prove it all night" and "racing in the streets".

One thing I don't like: That upbeat version of "Johnny 99".

[Currently ordering one on the Internet]

I actually wanted Darkness of thr Edge of Town. But Racing was amazing too.

Scott Brown

Linda McMahon

George Allen

Those are the ones I remember off the top of my (admittedly tired) head.

Nope.  Other than that Tpaw needed to make a little cashola in his life.

I think he has helped marginally in Wisconsin.

That said, VPs almost never make any real electoral difference so I am not sure why we would think Ryan would have been ny different.

Am currently in the beginning of season 3....don't ruin it for me!

We announced the winner earlier this week!

Way to tough it out.

They won't.

The idea that this will be 1996 again is just wrong. The GOP donor and activist base is WAY too invested in beating Obama to walk away from Romney. Can you imagine Democrats walking away from Kerry in 2004?

Yup.

PSL and a pumpkin scone? That's overkill, is it not?

I am not convinced that the "Romney is a flip flopper" attack still has much saliency among the VERY small number of people who still haven't made up their minds about the race. 

Yup. True.

I think Romney needs Ohio. If he doesn't get Ohio, he needs WI and IA or either PA or MI.

Don't get the "you and yours" assertion.  I know this is hard to believe for partisans of both sides but I simply don't have a dog in the fight. I try to cover the news of the day, week and year as it comes --  not through any partisan lens.

As for your other point, I agree that assuming that everyone knows about the 47 percent comments (or cares) could well be a mistake.

I think Ann Romney's comments were a little tin-eared -- yes, running for president and taking the slings and arrows that come with it is hard but lots and lots of people in the country would trade their current situation for that of the Romneys (or the Obamas) in the drop of a hat.

Just think that despite the fact that she is the best candidate Republicans could nominate, Wilson is being hurt by the fact that she is running in a Democratic leaning state with a big Hispanic population in a presidential year.

That makes it very tough for her to win.

We wrote this week about how 2014 is going to be as tough (or tougher) an election cycle for Democrats. That piece is here.

Not possible these days.  

What didn't you move to the middle faster?

My question for Obama: Why didn't you just embrace Simpson-Bowles from the start?

Nope.

It's an incredibly depressing song lyrically which felt totally mismatched to the rhythm.

Anthony Weiner, I believe, won it four straight weeks. That's like Dimaggio's hit streak -- a record that may never be broken.

HMMM.  What you are likely seeing is part of a national cable TV buy....

From most to least impactful

5.

3.

1.

2.

4.

HMMM. I guess Donnelly because my guess is that Obama will lose worse in ND than IN.  But it's just a guess. And I would be surprised if either won. Same goes for Linda McMahon who is basically tied in CT right now.

Not one.

They won't win -- under any scenario -- if Akin is on the ballot as the GOP nominee...which I think he will be.

Not possible.

Gene and I=all you need. Not just in chats. In life too.

Well said, Mom.

Fair enough.

I always think trying to land one huge punch is a major mistake because in swinging for that punch you get yourself off balance and open youself up to a counterattack.

I think Romney needs to steadily and seriously prosecute the case against Obama earning a second term while also looking and sounding like he belongs on the debate stage with the president.

Low information undecided voters who don't watch cable TV, broadcast news, don't read newspapers or political blog (GASP!) and are generally far more interested in Kristin Stewart and Robert Pattinson than Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.

Those people watch The View and Letterman and read People. If they come across Obama or Michelle Obama in that venue, they may well wind up being just favorably inclined enough toward them to get off the fence.

Seconded.

Not sure. All signs point to the Booker-Christie race happening. If it does, will be a HUGE national attention getter -- and keep us political junkies happy even after the post presidential doldrums.

Yard signs=meaningless.

Yeah, I said it.

If he had wrapped his arms around that and pushed for its implementation, I think he is in a much better place for reelection right now.

He is campaigning around the country. For people who think he has "disappeared" I would remind you that VP picks almost never have a high profile or make any real difference in how people vote for president. There's no reason to think that Ryan would have been any different.

Absolutely. Also, for a guy in his 60s, he has an amazing amount of energy.

What do you mean?

(See what I did there....)

Do not. I do however follow international soccer/football.

Yes. Don't think it's the most likely outcome but it is a possibility. [rubs his hands gleefully]

I wish.  I mostly just jot them down on an old reporter's notebook.

Am going to do an electoral college column for the Monday newspaper though -- or at least that's the current plan.

Definitely not Christie despite the gov's fanatical love of him.

Homer Simpson for Sanitation Commissioner. Not close.

Also, I am voting for Ron Swanson in 2012.  Campaign slogan? "I can do what I want."

This guy.  Mostly because I just REALLY want a British accent.

Well she's in a very competitive race with a proven votegetter in Rep. Jim Matheson. If Love wins that one, she will immediately get a national profile within the GOP.

Just a terrific Bud Melman reference.