Confronting the media was not done by the candidates, they are the ones that can penetrate the media control (maybe). For example look at the way Newt parried a question about abortion by asking why ‘there are never questions about partial birth abortion’. If Akin and Mourdock had done the same it could have avoided some serious damage. Romney could have done the same about fast and furious and other topics. I don’t know how he avoided learning anything from Gingrich.
I wonder why Romney went soft in the general election? He had no problem bashing conservatives during the primary season. Two opposite answer would be: (1) He wanted to win, (2) He didn’t want to win.
A form of (1), He wanted to win but did a lousy job of it, is the answer most given. The sad thing is that Ted Kennedy defeated him in Massachusetts years ago painting him as an uncaring corporate raider. You’d think he had already seen that movie.
So, (2), in some form or fashion, becomes a viable option.