Conservatives shiver at the thought of a second Barack Obama term. Buoyed by Obama’s lackluster fundraising for 2012 and the president’s inability to muster the critical 50 percent favorable rating gives Conservatives reason to look positively at the fall election; yet the lack of excitement over Mitt Romney also gives Conservatives concern we could be in for four more years of Obama.
Even those on the right admit Romney has made strides since his pounding in the South Carolina primary; but the same drabness that kept Romney from defeating John McCain in 2008 has carried forward to 2012. Let’s face it, Romney isn’t the most charismatic guy and Barack Obama is.
Inarguably Mitt Romney had a better primary run in 2012 than in 2008; Romney was better funded and running against people better known for their years in Congress than in the business world. At a time of extreme economic hardship Romney’s business credentials served him well; but his time as a Northeastern governor and statements he made during the Massachusetts gubernatorial campaign have given many Conservatives pause.
This coming election was supposed to be a time when Conservatives could nominate a strong Conservative; the failing economy and the Obama Administration’s inability to move the country in a positive direction suggested a landslide election for the Republicans. Still, even in the face of a disgruntled electorate, the GOP has all but nominated a moderate; by June 26th when Utah holds the last primary it will be a done deal. Perhaps a moderate is the strongest opponent to put up against Obama, but will Conservatives show up at the polls?
Romney will likely get a lift in the general election by the Obama campaign’s attempt to piggyback on the Occupy Wall Street movement. The fringe right of the Democratic Party is staking their future on a divide-and-conquer strategy, painting the successful and wealthy Romney as part of the evil rich one-percent crowd. American’s love success, even if they are frustrated by the current economic situation and Obama’s strategy will only appeal to the group he already owns: Liberals.
We remain a nation focused on the American Dream, where everyone hopes and believes that one day they too may be among the one-percent. Romney’s greatest ally is a out-of-touch Democratic Party vilifying the dreams of all people.
Still Romney has a big challenge: forced to redefine himself as a Conservative to appeal to Republicans in the primaries he must now make a move toward the center to reap support of the Independents who will ultimately decide the election. Romney will be compelled to walk a tightrope between gathering broad Independent support while at the same time soothing Conservatives concern over his true nature. Whether Romney can deftly manage a nudge to the center and hold on to his base will determine whether the Romneys are redecorating the White House or the Obamas are planning more vacations on the taxpayer’s dime.