The damage of the remarks is twofold. Obviously, it deeply reinforces the worst stereotypes voters have of Romney. Indeed, the fact that he is currently running ads trying to make the case that he does care about all of America testifies to the grim position in which Romney finds himself. If youre trying to clear the threshold of does this candidate hate me six weeks before the election, youre probably not on the verge of closing the sale.
Worse still, the comments destroy Romneys fundamental credibility. Here America sees what he says behind closed doors. Nothing he can say in public can possibly overcome the damage of these comments, because voters will quite correctly assume that he is telling them what they want to hear. George W. Bushs campaign figured out how to do this to both Al Gore and John Kerry by painting them as liars, Bush destroyed them as a message delivery platform. Romney has, essentially, done it to himself.
The Poetic Justice of Romney
Worse still, the comments destroy Romneys fundamental credibility. Here America sees what he says behind closed doors. Nothing he can say in public can possibly overcome the damage of these comments, because voters will quite correctly assume that he is telling them what they want to hear. George W. Bushs campaign figured out how to do this to both Al Gore and John Kerry by painting them as liars, Bush destroyed them as a message delivery platform. Romney has, essentially, done it to himself.
The Poetic Justice of Romney
