Mitt Romney, struggling, makes a new effort to connect

[TomCADem]

Source: LA Times

As Mitt Romney prepares for his pivotal first debate against President Obama, his campaign is struggling to regain its footing. By recalibrating his message and increasing his interactions with reporters, Romney is trying to reignite his presidential bid at a critical time, with just over a month until election day and early voting underway in many key swing states.

He is still struggling to connect with voters, a challenge that has confronted him since the primaries. And he has often spent more time fundraising than campaigning in battleground states, where recent polling shows Obama gaining ground.

A campaign that once gloated about expanding the electoral map for Republicans is now fiercely fighting to hang on to states that were once considered favorable territory for the GOP nominee, such as North Carolina.

Romney continues to be dogged by the release of a secretly taped video that shows him denigrating nearly half the population, forcing him to play up his empathy. And despite repeated pledges by his campaign to offer specifics, even some supporters say he is too vague about his plans. All this is why political experts say Wednesday's debate is so crucial.


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-romney-20120930,0,3059579.story

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Seriously? What is this? Romney 8.0? Romney hides out during the week after the RNC convention doing debate prep, he refuses to talk to reporters during his International tour even though they were a captive audience, then he spends large portions of last month doing closed door fundraisers, rather than political rallies, and now with just over a month a way from the election he decides he needs to connect with voters?

WTF? It says something when you decide to answer questions and attend rallies with your constituents as an act of deparation. I shudder to think what he would be like as President. He would make the Bush presidency look transparent and accessible.

[hrmjustin]

1. connect, is anyone sure he is human.

[Maeve]

11. Yeah, he can't connect because he can't find the right outlet!

But he keeps plugging away without that spark...

[Webster Green]

2. This is more fun than I ever hoped for.

I can't wait for election day.

[left on green only]

3. I'm sadistic....

.....I'd rather stretch it out for as long as possible and enjoy myself watching him grovel.

[lunatica]

21. It's the day after that'll be best.

[speedoo]

4. Horrible candidate running a totally inept campaign.

As panic sets in, the candidate and campaign will get worse, not better.

[NBachers]

5. Also- SHOW US YOUR TAXES!

[StevePaulson]

7. Yeah - Show Us Your Taxes

Just because most middle class workers pay 3 or 4 times as much as you. Come on. Give it up. Show us your taxes. Let's see who you screwed.....

[sofa king]

19. He can't. He's trying to "connect."

I swear, I've seen some version of this headline every three to six weeks for the past year.

People don't want to "connect" with a hagfish. They are slimy and gross.

This is reminding me more and more of the "kinder Bob Dole" cycles we saw back in '96, as that unrelentingly callous candidate tried--and failed--to soften his image a dozen times. Only erectile dysfunction could do that.

[lunatica]

22. LOL!

Yeah, but have you ever heard Elizabeth Dole talk? Skreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech!

[aletier_v]

6. Voters are an after-thought for attaining the presidency

It appears Romney saw the US as a potential buy-out and voters as employees.

[StevePaulson]

8. Business Opportunity For Romney

Hey Mitt. I know of a company you can buy. It makes a good profit and the workers are happy and well paid. You can buy the company, load it up with debt, screw the workers out of their pensions, and cut their wages. If they complain you can close the factory and hire a bunch of folks in China to make the goods instead. Deal?

[dimbear]

9. Romney continues to be dogged by the ghost of Seamus, but like Ann says, he isn't a monster,

at least not compared to Godzilla.

[randome]

13. Hey! Godzilla is just misunderstood. At least he has a recognizable addiction to radioactivity!

Romney? I think he's addicted to being rich and nothing more.

[coalition_unwilling]

14. Don't forget the ghost of John Lauber (the kid whom Romney forcibly assaulted

in prep school).

Lapsed Buddhist though I may be, I'd like to think that somewhere the united Lauber and Seamus are smiling from the heavens.

[cbrer]

10. Oh...I thought this was going to be along the lines of

Votes for stock options.

[treestar]

12. They keep trying to pretend the debate will give Mittwit a chance

No, Mittwit will simply have another chance to show what a poor choice he would be for POTUS

[zellie]

15. I hear McCain is even laughing at him. nt

[reflection]

16. Win or lose,

this stiff weirdo will never connect with anyone who doesn't look as if they emerged from the cover of the Monopoly box. And if the American electorate is deluded enough to elect this sociopath, connecting will be the least of their worries.

[Donkees]

17. Mitt-Ann-Thropes

Mitt-Ann-Thropes struggle with empathy

[valerief]

23. Badda bing!

[Botany]

18. go for it Mitt

[lunatica]

20. That's because the voters have connected the dots already

He connected too well.