Inside the campaign: How Mitt Romney stumbled
Last edited Mon Sep 17, 2012, 04:41 AM - Edit history (1)
Stuart Stevens, Mitt Romneys top strategist, knew his candidates convention speech needed a memorable mix of loft and grace if he was going to bound out of Tampa with an authentic chance to win the presidency. So Stevens, bypassing the speechwriting staff at the campaigns Boston headquarters, assigned the sensitive task of drafting it to Peter Wehner, a veteran of the last three Republican White Houses and one of the partys smarter wordsmiths.
Stevens junked the entire thing, setting off a chaotic, eight-day scramble that would produce an hour of prime-time problems for Romney, including Clint Eastwoods meandering monologue to an empty chair.
Romneys convention stumbles have provoked weeks of public griping and internal sniping about not only Romney but also his mercurial campaign muse, Stevens. Viewed warily by conservatives, known for his impulsiveness and described by a colleague as a tortured artist, Stevens has become the leading staff scapegoat for a campaign that suddenly is behind in a race that had been expected to stay neck and neck through Nov. 6.
This article is based on accounts from Romney aides, advisers and friends, most of whom refused to speak on the record because they were recounting private discussions and offering direct criticism of the candidate and his staff, Stevens in particular.
Stevens, in a lengthy interview Sunday afternoon, defended the campaigns performance, refused to discuss internal conversations and insisted Romney is doing far better than the pundits portray. Like all campaigns, we have good days and bad days. Im happy to take responsibility for the bad days, he said. This is a tremendously talented team.
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