"Governor. Romney, how many houses do YOU have?" = Not like asking McCain. Won't help us.

[monomach]

1. Mitt Romney undoubtedly knows the number of houses he owns. He's on top of his money.
2. Mitt Romney has consistently used his wealth as his message. It's practically his "I was a POW."
3. Mitt Romney is a lot of things, but senile and stupid he's not.

If he was asked that, he'd flash one of his million-watt honest(hah!)-Mormon-guy smiles, and say something like "I'm glad you ask. I have four houses. Four. After working long hours as an intern out of college, I built a company from the ground up and I did pretty well. That's why I'm looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and helping the next President of the United States, John McCain, with our struggling economy. As someone who was successful in the private sector, I think I've got some great ideas to get us out of this rut."

Bam. Attack fails.

Asking Romney that question is pretty much the opposite of asking a stupid, senile guy who married a loaded heiress and isn't allowed to handle any of the finances. Romney comes from money, sure...But he made way, way more on his own and is used to saying it thirty times a day. Is he so rich that he's out of touch? Yep. Doesn't matter, though. He's got a much better way of spinning it.

[bidenista]

1. agreed

If McCain picks Romney, it'll be because he wants someone vaguely economically competent on the ticket. Attacking Romney for his personal wealth - which he is seen as having earned himself - will fail.

Still, no reason why he can't be attacked for being a soulless Ken doll who has changed his mind more often than a kid in a candy store.

[PATRICK]

2. One question I would like to slip

to Romney if he were Veep choice would be that- in the tragic event of a death of a 72 old president who HE might choose as VP? With a particular person ever on his mind- which I suspect has been the case since the primaries started with the possibility of Thompson(now dying) or McCain getting the nod for either spot- I would love to see him taken by surprise on that one.

It also raise one of the biggest issues of the campaign wile springing the trap. Well, he won't answer truthfully about a sure deal to anoint one of the inner circle back into the administration(Jeb?), but what the heck.

[WeDidIt]

3. Between these two men, they on more than a dozen houses

That plays in Peoria. It says, "these are rich guys who have no clue about my problems."

[monomach]

4. It definitely does not play in Peoria.

As someone who actually lives in Peoria, I'm pretty confident in saying that Romney could beat Obama here if he were the top of the ticket.

:cry:

[beyurslf]

5. True point. The reason the house gaffe is so god with McCain is not just that he didn't know how

many he had. He said he would have his staff get back with them. And, just days earlier had said to be rich you had to make $5 million a year. Ouch. That is out of touch.
Plus, a "gotcha" question only works once. No one will ever again miss the "How many houses do you own" question just like they will never again miss the "Why do you want to be president" question.