I think there is no doubt that the Obama / DNC attacks have hurt Romney. He has compounded it by not being on the airwaves combating them.
Has Obama struck a fatal blow? Probably not yet, but Romney is behind and has ground to make up.
If he continues to play it safe, he will continue to fall further behind and Obama and a number of FReepers will be ecstatic.
I think that is a fair criticism of Romney's campaign thus far. His response to the fascist tactics of the Chicago goon squad does not indicate any awareness of the fact that in Obama he is dealing with a punk thug who is barely containing his contempt for this country. It is up to Romney to rip the mask off Reverend Wright's altar boy and I have yet to be convinced he is willing to do the job.