In what world did he run a decent campaign? He turned out less of the base than McLAME. He let them demonize him over Bain Capitol. He let them demonize him over the 47% remark. He let them say he was a felon and a murderer...and did not hit back...jsut grinned and said "naaaaaw....shucks...I not all that...geeee." He had, by most accounts, a HORRIBLE team surrounding him. He never once made F&F an issue. He didn't make Libya OR Benghazi an issue. He didn't make foreign policy an issue. Every time I looked around on national TV ads...I saw Obama ads. Everytime I got on Youtube...or Facebook...or Google...I saw Obama (and I said the GOP was WAY behind in E-media back in 2008! And this year was WORSE). "ORCA" was a failure. Had he been as viscious and run the general like he did the primary...he might have won.
I also echoed MANY Freepers about Romney: You CANNOT be governor of Taxachussets and be a conservative. NO WAY...NO HOW.
RE your point that Romney didn’t turn out the base:
First, you’re correct. And this cost us downticket candidates (eg Indiana, Missouri, Montana and North Dakota Senate seats) where it mattered how big we carried the state.
Second, it’s not clear you can convince the persuadable 6 percent. The Democrats didn’t even try. During the debates, they were GOTVing. Speaking to their base. Romney and Ryan were trying to be reasonable. Trying to appeal to the 6 percent.
Third, for a lot of people, both in the base and in the 6 percent, it’s not about reason. It’s about image. The “trust factor” and the “likability” factor. This means you have to actually attack your opponent’s manhood. Nice guys finish last. Romney did not call out Obama for being an empty suit. I don’t know, maybe he didn’t because of race. One of those “soft racism” things.