Romney Can Win by Doing Nothing but Pointing at the Economy

The longer the Obama campaign attempts to keep Bain in the news, the better it is for Romney. I know, this sounds like it is kind of backwards, but because of  the likes of Bill Clinton, who said "I don’t think we ought to get into the position where we say this is bad work; this is good work,” when discussing Bain and Romney. He also said that "There’s no question that, in terms of getting up, going to the office, and basically performing the essential functions of the office, a man who’s been governor and had a sterling business career crosses the qualification threshold.” 

Again, because of the steady stream of Democrats, attempting to have it both ways, the worse this is for Obama, and the better it is for Romney.  The effect that this has is to help keep the issue in the news for Romney, who wants to use it to say he has the economic intuition to bring this country out of the rut. 

Normally the attacks would be potent, but when so many Democrats come out and say that these attacks are wrongheaded, and in the case of Clinton, going as far as to say Romney is qualified, then it starts to make the Obama campaign look desperate. 

Now only that, Amie Parnes and Mike Lillis over at the Hill.com got it right when they wrote "A number of Democrats have voiced concerns with Obama’s strategy, warning that voters could view the attacks as a broad condemnation of private equity firms rather than a focused rebuke of Romney's management style – an interpretation that could reinforce perceptions, encouraged by Republicans, that Obama is anti-free market."

  

Right now, the Obama team is trying to paint Romney as extreme, using John McCain to contrast their new opponent. Byron York got it right when he said that what Obama really misses is his old, weak opponent. Romney just needs to not be caught up in these petty personal attacks, and continue to point out that under Obama’s leadership; the country is still facing economic hardship.  This is not what Obama promised, and if the situation was worse than he thought it was – which is the excuse they are so fond of – then what does that say?  

To win this race, Romney may not have to do nothing but point out that Obama is not willing to talk about his vision for a second term.  Obama can attempt to attack his way into reelection, but so far, this has not got him any closer.