Aw, c'mon Tant....I'd like to see how you can "Prove" someone more effective against someone who hasn't even entered the race!..How considerate of you to give Fred the 25%. Let's revisit this post again in late November, shall we?
~”Aw, c’mon Tant....I’d like to see how you can “Prove” someone more effective against someone who hasn’t even entered the race!”~
I can’t prove anything. We’re talking opinion here, remember?
But here’s how I come to the conclusion that Romney is more effective as a candidate than Thompson.
1. Executive experience. Romney is a rock star as a manager. What is a campaign other than an organization that needs managing? Thompson’s executive experience is limited to his time as a senator. Fine and dandy - but there’s a very good reason we so rarely elect senators to the Presidency. Senators are bureaucrats. They hire all kinds of advisers and staff and overload their organizations with dead weight. The organization becomes lethargic and slow to respond. We’ve seen it time and time and time again. Executives such as former governors, on the other hand, tend to keep a lean, efficient, well-run, nimble campaign and concentrate their resources on the highest priorities.
2. Charisma. Romney has it. It’s infectious. He draws people into his speeches. Thompson, for all the clever, well-scripted repartee he’s delivered so far (I loved his Michael Moore response), has not yet proven himself to be someone who is a magnetic leader. Could this change? Sure. Get him out on the stump, where he’s got to ad lib and defend himself, and we’ll see how he does. The jury’s still out.
3. Fire in the belly. Romney is a voracious campaigner; he seems tireless. Thompson, on the other hand, keeps pushing back his date. This may be clever strategy on his part, but I interpret it as a good excuse to keep away from the 80-hour work weeks the campaign requires. Am I right? Time will tell.
4. Organization. Romney has grassroots organizations in the key states that the other candidates would die for. He’s built a strong foundation where it matters most, and he knows how to use it. He has the backing of key politicians, and therefore their organizational strength. Thompson has none of this. He’ll have 4-5 months to accomplish what Romney has done in 18. Can he do it? I don’t think so. The buzz will give him a jump on it; but I don’t think it’ll be the jump that he’ll need.
5. Oh yeah, and Mitt’s a hottie! (just for you, AMPU)
Now, you may respond, “But Thompson’s the real conservative here! The base is going to flock to him in droves!” Well, so far, this is true. But I promise you, that perception is going to disappear. There’s just as much in Thompson’s record that will concern true-blue conservatives as there is in Romney’s record. Don’t get me wrong, I like Thompson. But he’s no more a conservative than Romney. Pity about Duncan Hunter, et al.
~”How considerate of you to give Fred the 25%.”~
I try to be generous. I may have to revise that downward if he keeps making me mad by teasing me. Watch out, Fred, here I come! After Labor Day? Fine! You only get 20%!
~”Let’s revisit this post again in late November, shall we?”~
Fine. I revise my opinions for consistency with new data all the time. In a few months, I may very well agree with you. I give that a 12.38% chance.
LOL!