Noonan: Romney Needs a New CEO How to save a listing campaign, the Baker Way.

[DonViejo]

"Nothing is written." That was T.E. Lawrence to the Arab tribesmen in Robert Bolt's screenplay, a masterpiece, of "Lawrence of Arabia." You write no one off. Nothing is inevitable. Life is news—"What happened today?" And news is surprise—"You're kidding!"

But you have to look at the landscape and see the shape of the land. You have to see it clearly to move on it well.

So here's one tough, cool-eyed report on what is happening in the presidential race. It's from veteran Republican pollster, now corporate strategist, Steve Lombardo of Edelman public relations in Washington. Mr. Lombardo worked in the 2008 Romney campaign. He's not affiliated with any candidate. This is what he wrote Thursday morning, and what he sees is pretty much what I see.

"The pendulum has swung toward Obama." Mitt Romney has "a damaged political persona." He is running behind in key states like Ohio and Virginia and, to a lesser extent, Florida. The president is reversing the decline that began with his "You didn't build that" comment. For three weeks he's been on a roll. The wind's at his back.

How did we get here? What can turn it around?


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[grasswire]

1. that is actually a very interesting column

She's basically recommending that the GOP run a *brand* -- someone who doesn't strategize or develop the characteristics of the candidate, but rather will just listen and obey the campaign team.

Romney destroyed his brand, and has a tin ear.

[progressivebydesign]

2. Oh the irony of suggesting Mitt needs a CEO! Considering that was his supposedly selling point...

No, they don't need a game-changer, nor a new message, nor a CEO, they need a new candidate.

Remember Palin? All the expensive clothes, and fawning media, and handlers, could not hide the fact that she was completely useless. Bush got through twice because of vote suppression, bad things in Florida, etc., but it was close enough to steal because Bush, for all of his horrible faults, was palatable and likeable to many people. Romney and Palin, are not. And it shows. And people are more aware of being bullshitted, after getting the Bush disaster foist upon them. Remember when Bush stole the election, the declared he had a mandate??

[bklyncowgirl]

3. The problem with that is that Romney's strongest brand is "Mr Fixit", "Turnaround Artist", CEO Guy

What Americans are watching is that Mr. Fixit CEO guy can't even turn around his own presidential campaign.

This clown can't even go to freakin' England without creating an international incident--who is he going to be able to deal with the likes of Vladimir Putin?

This is a CEO running short of cash but still manages to give his top campaign staff, who have not served him well bonuses. I thought he was the guy who liked to fire people!

Sorry Peggy, its not the branding--it's the product.

[SoapBox]

4. NO...NO! No changes!

Mittens, keep everyone!

And you Cowboy, just keep Shoot'n First...and think about Aim'n Later!!!!!

[coalition_unwilling]

5. The money shot:

"Maybe advice could come from someone in politics who awes him. If that isn't Jim Baker then Mitt Romney's not awe-able, which is a different kind of problem."

Noonan won't come out and say that Romney is an arrogant elitist asshole, but she dances right up to it in the final sentences.

[grasswire]

6. I'm not sure why she wants to rehabilitate this campaign...

....considering how screwed up Romney is.

Would SHE want him to be POTUS, knowing that he takes the bit in his teeth and runs amok?