I’ve said what you’ve said for years. A pubbie candidate has to explain things to the electorate who are usually misinformed or outright ignorant. Merely stating that he could do better than Obama begged the questions: why and how? Every Pubbie candidate should be, like Reagan, and educator and an attacker. Reagan hammered liberalism at every opportunity. There is no room for squeamish Pubbies afraid of offending indys or minorities. Tell it like it is. Romney didn’t.
Bravo, driftless2: You are right. Republican establishment types aim to MANIPULATE the electorate including by pandering, trying to fool them, etc. A good conservative candidte aims to EDUCATE, INFORM and PERSUADE the electorate.