1) It revealed that he knows how to attack. Therefore, he did not fail to attack Obama because he lacked the ability, he failed because he lacked the will.
2) The GOP "leaders" who put him up to it understood the need to attack a potential winner before it's too late. Therefore, the reason THEY failed to attack Obama in 2008 AND 2012 is NOT that they lacked understanding, it is that they lacked the will.
Romney + McCain = both cowards in attacking the vast fertile & vulnerable grounds on which Obama could have been attacked.