Romney "lost" the summer?

[fezzyfestoon]

Just rethinking this line that's been making the rounds lately from several "news" outlets. And forgive my quote frenzy. If I'm not mistaken, Romney began the summer in a historically hostile position from all angles. Nobody seemed to like him at all, yet he had just locked up the Republican nomination somehow. Then he got wrecked by negative ads and was constantly swimming against the current. Now as the summer winds down and the actual campaign begins, he's tied with Obama by most measures. And that means he lost? Has our memory starved country forgotten just how little the summer means to Presidential campaigns anyway? Who cares if he got defined rather than define himself? It would take probably a whole week for him to redefine himself. Three months or whatever of campaigning is an eternity. People seem to be getting a little too excitable over every event. I know the media is a bunch of cracked out hacks, but aren't we supposed to be able to see through that? I dunno, maybe my inherent Romney biases are clouding my judgment again

[NHI]

People don't pay attention until the conventions and after Labor Day. There is more than enough time for Romney to win this election, and by picking Paul Ryan I think it has already begun.

[Torie]

The way I would put it is that Mittens "wasted" the summer.

[stegosaurus]

The way I would put it is that Mittens "wasted" the summer.

Bingo. Romney is largely responsible for his own position, he should be leading.

[tmthforu94]

Meh, people don't pay attention too much in the summer. The only thing that will have a real impact on the General Election is fundraising, an area Romney clearly won.

[All Along The Watchtower]

Meh, people don't pay attention too much in the summer. The only thing that will have a real impact on the General Election is fundraising, an area Romney clearly won.

Most voters have already decided who they will vote for. Look at who's been leading in the polls.

[Vosem]

Meh, people don't pay attention too much in the summer. The only thing that will have a real impact on the General Election is fundraising, an area Romney clearly won.

Most voters have already decided who they will vote for. Look at who's been leading in the polls.

Voters frequently overstate the finality of their decisions -- at this point in 1992, that could be an argument for a Perot victory.

[mondale84]

Meh, people don't pay attention too much in the summer. The only thing that will have a real impact on the General Election is fundraising, an area Romney clearly won.

Most voters have already decided who they will vote for. Look at who's been leading in the polls.

Voters frequently overstate the finality of their decisions -- at this point in 1992, that could be an argument for a Perot victory.

The country was a lot less polarized in 1992.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Meh, people don't pay attention too much in the summer.

President Kerry agrees with you.

[ajc0918]

Meh, people don't pay attention too much in the summer.

President Kerry agrees with you.

lol

[pbrower2a]

Meh, people don't pay attention too much in the summer. The only thing that will have a real impact on the General Election is fundraising, an area Romney clearly won.

...but the GOP is ahead in fundraising and President Obama has been consistently ahead in the polling, so the messages being sent through the political advertising that GOP fundraising has bought aren't having the desired effect. I've seen lots of ads for Scotch whiskey, but I have never had a drink of the stuff after I found the taste nauseating. I enjoyed a good beer or wine until gout put that out of the question.

Orwellian ads work -- when there is no alternative. They otherwise offend sensibilities of people who still have the ability to think. 

[HagridOfTheDeep]

I do think Romney lost the summer.

BUT, I've noticed a marked change in Romney's demeanor after the Ryan pick. On the stump, Romney's seemed a lot more energized, determined, and clear. It actually seems like the man's got vision now. Ryan complements Romney quite well, ideologies aside.

[Stranger in a strange land]

The summer doesn't really matter that much because it can be so easily upended in September or October. McCain unquestionably won the Summer in 2008, and went from a five point deficit to a tie or slight lead. It ended up not mattering because the first two weeks of September were an unmitigated disaster for his campaign.

[Cory]

I've noticed a marked change in Romney's demeanor after the Ryan pick. On the stump, Romney's seemed a lot more energized, determined, and clear. It actually seems like the man's got vision now. Ryan complements Romney quite well, ideologies aside.

I think Ryan will help Romney "find his voice", if you will.