[swampfox101]

“A decisively large slice of the electorate still likes”

I don’t agree with that at all. The 2010 elections were a referendum on both Obama the man and his policies. Both he and his policies were repuciated. The only people that like Obama and what he is doing is the liberal base of his party, the blacks, and the new media. All three of these groups have the same mindset. Obama, his policies, and his leadership were all thrown on the trash heap of society in the 2010 electons.

The press cheerleads for Obama day in and day out, if it were not for that, the man’s approval ratings would be in the teens. The press is carrying this man’s sorry a##. The majority of the American electorate, I believe, have great disdain and the utomost contempt for the man. As they should.

[Rockingham]

The electorate is reshaped in every election seasons, and the lessons of 2010 are already stale, even misleading. The best guide to the contours of the 2012 general election -- polling -- shows that the general public mostly likes and respects Obama as a person, respects but is cool toward Romney, and, to a large degree, dislikes Newt as a person and is not sure of what he would do as President.

Can that change during a campaign? Of course it can, but starting out with high negatives for your candidate adds to the burdens and difficulties of a general election campaign.

In compensation, Newt brings the assets of energy, experience, and a willingness to fight. And Romney's political blunders and lack of warmth and personal rapport with the public undermines the attractiveness that his resume indicates that he should have.