The Romney enthusiasm gap - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

MikeWaters · 09-28-2011, 07:12 PM

I've watched 2 debates now, and was impressed with how "grown up" and competent Romney appeared in them. In contrast to the other people running. That's important in an election where there is a real sense that we had better someone who knows something about running things, to actually get results.

I've watched with glee as Rick Perry has exposed himself for the buffoon that he is.

But in swimming around the internets, I find that there are very few people who are strongly supportive of Romney. It seems all the support is soft. Almost apologetic. It's like they feel like they are trotting out an almost-authentic Paul Tsongas. It's hard to go to war over Paul Tsongas. Same thing with Romney.

Romney has done a very good job creating a stature gap. But he's not doing so well with the enthusiasm gap. I'm really not sure what can be done about that. Some are claiming it's due to his cold-fish personality, that he can't ever really connect with other people. Maybe it's all about RomneyCare.

I suppose that he ought to consider a more emotional approach to his campaign. That's what Reagan was really good at. Getting you fired up on the insides that if you were fighting for him, you were fighting for all that is good in the world. You just don't get that with Romney.

Huntsman is probably even worse in this department. Does anyone give a rat's ass about Huntsman? Romney at least with tangle and fight. Not sure that Huntsman can.

ute4ever · 09-28-2011, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

It's like they feel like they are trotting out an almost-authentic Paul Tsongas. It's hard to go to war over Paul Tsongas.

Please elaborate. What I remember about Tsongas was how stubbornly he insisted on telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth in his debates. He insisted over and over that he was the only honest candidate.

I don't get that same feel from Romney, in fact he sets off my slime radar. So I'm curious what part of Tsongas the politician you are alluding to.

MikeWaters · 09-28-2011, 07:42 PM

How boring Tsongas was. He had the charisma of a baked clam.

MikeWaters · 09-28-2011, 07:54 PM

but you are certainly right in that Tsongas came across as a very authentic, while Romney comes across like he has focus-group tested every word that comes from his lips.

My point is that that for Romney to actually really do well and win, he needs to have some kind of turning point where the electorate sees him in a very different way.

With GHWB, that moment was when he took on Dan Rather in an interview. Suddenly he shed the "wimp" label he had.

09-28-2011, 07:12 PM	#1
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	The Romney enthusiasm gap I've watched 2 debates now, and was impressed with how "grown up" and competent Romney appeared in them. In contrast to the other people running. That's important in an election where there is a real sense that we had better someone who knows something about running things, to actually get results. I've watched with glee as Rick Perry has exposed himself for the buffoon that he is. But in swimming around the internets, I find that there are very few people who are strongly supportive of Romney. It seems all the support is soft. Almost apologetic. It's like they feel like they are trotting out an almost-authentic Paul Tsongas. It's hard to go to war over Paul Tsongas. Same thing with Romney. Romney has done a very good job creating a stature gap. But he's not doing so well with the enthusiasm gap. I'm really not sure what can be done about that. Some are claiming it's due to his cold-fish personality, that he can't ever really connect with other people. Maybe it's all about RomneyCare. I suppose that he ought to consider a more emotional approach to his campaign. That's what Reagan was really good at. Getting you fired up on the insides that if you were fighting for him, you were fighting for all that is good in the world. You just don't get that with Romney. Huntsman is probably even worse in this department. Does anyone give a rat's ass about Huntsman? Romney at least with tangle and fight. Not sure that Huntsman can.

09-28-2011, 07:42 PM	#3
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	How boring Tsongas was. He had the charisma of a baked clam.

09-28-2011, 07:54 PM	#4
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	but you are certainly right in that Tsongas came across as a very authentic, while Romney comes across like he has focus-group tested every word that comes from his lips. My point is that that for Romney to actually really do well and win, he needs to have some kind of turning point where the electorate sees him in a very different way. With GHWB, that moment was when he took on Dan Rather in an interview. Suddenly he shed the "wimp" label he had.