Oddly enough, this is conventional wisdom campaign-wise. You don't have your candidate do the real attack-dog negative campaigning.
This is for surrogates (think Sununu for Romney) often the VP. IMHO, what happened was Obama tried surrogates at first. Biden bombed. Corey Booker pulled his anti-Obama/Bain ad stunt and was sent to the woodshed. Clinton did something similar. Axelrod was sent out in a major effort and blew it too.
I believe it was then that Obama stepped more into this role of attack dog.
And I think you are right on Romney not making the same mistake.
Another disadvantage, besides not looking presidential, is that when Obama goes negative, his personality of a snarky, sarcastic, angry man is revealed.
The master, as usual, was Ronald "there you go again" Reagan.
I believe it was then that Obama stepped more into this role of attack dog.
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I suspect Obama is narcisistic enough to think that only he is able to do the job.
I further suspect that other’s around him suspect that and are allowing him, at risk to himself, do the attacking.
They know he is teetering on nutso?
Ever watch a Face in the Crowd with Andy Griffith.
It seems like there has to be some of that going on..?