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“Unfortunately, the attacks have to be responded to.”

Disagree, on several counts. First, one is defined by what one resists. If Santorum is or becomes defined by the sheer volume of Mittsers’ attacks, which we anticipate as massive, then he allows it, he walks into that trap. He CAN’T win in a tit-for-tat. This is a known known. Thus he shouldn’t even begin to play that game.

Second, what we want is for Mitt to swing wildly, like a punchdrunk bully...and never connect. If Rick never gets drawn into an insult-fueled fray, then he acquires the stature of a Romney (in terms of being a powerful front runner) just by being in the same ring; but without being *defined* by Romney. It’s IMO an important strategic distinction. Let’s face it, Rick has somewhat of a “backwoodsy” vibe about him, Mittney has this urban, slicker-than-poop image about him. >>>IF he plays it properly, Rick will ultimately end up being better defined by Mitt being unable to land punches than he will playing rope-a-dope or swinging back, punch-for-punch. Mark my words on that point.<<< And then, at some point, Mittster will acquire an image of being the hateful, spiteful, ineffective one. And that could be game, set, match.

Finally, if he simply ignores Mittney enough, Mittney, being the single-strategy mastermind that he is, who is big on the personal attacks but light on the resume, will have to resort to harsher and harsher attacks in an effort to gain traction, and I will tell you now, there will come a point where people will have had enough of that crap and will soundly reject Romney, not just “develop a preference” for the other guy. Romney has been quite remarkable in the stealth organization he has apparently built up on the ground. A direct attack isn’t gonna cut it. But it can be undermined by refusing to play. Mitt ain’t ready for that. He sees himself as the front runner, Rick figures out a way to ignore Romney, and it will scramble Mitt’s brain.