If – by the time the primaries are held – Republican voters have not moved negatively against Perry, then Romney will find himself in a very tough position. Whether it’s through advertisements, in debates, on the stump or some combination thereof, Romney will have to go negative against Perry in an attempt to bring down Perry’s positive ratings. That’s a risky proposition as voters prefer optimistic candidates; however, negative ads work. Successfully walking that the line between optimism and negativity is a tightrope balancing act that few can pull off, but Romney may have no choice but take that step if the dynamic hasn’t changed by then.
Over the course of the upcoming debates and primary season, voters will be looking for a candidate with viable solutions. At the meta level, Perry’s argument is fairly clear: he can simply point to his tenure in Texas, and essentially say he wants more of the same at the federal level. Romney will need to counter that with arguments that set him apart and that voters can believe will be even more effective than what happened in Texas under Perry. If he can do that, then he may be able to overcome Perry’s Texas record with policy persuasion.
Is Mitt Romney doomed to be a bridesmaid once again in 2012? Not at all. Lots of things can and will happen between now and when the primaries are wrapped up. Some of them will be beyond his control, but Romney has a number of choices to make in managing his campaign in the meantime. He has the opportunity to write the ending of his own story: Will he be the underdog who triumphs in the end, or the tragic hero too flawed to ultimately prevail?
Under Politics, Presidential Politics, US Politics
Tags: 2012 Election, Mitt Romney, Polling, Republicans, Rick Perry
