[Owen]

Look, guys, before everyone decides that . . . what conventional experts would call poor campaigning . . . is actually a shrewd decision to be different, don’t you think you should ask why?

What is the reason he thinks that the only, or even best, path to victory would be to pursue a program that has Never Led Any One In History To Victory?

What is the desperate reality that leads him to pursue a path that no political advisor would ever advise? What leads him to think that, on the basis of one term in the Senate, he knows better than those advisors how to win the presidency? The people who worked on the Bush campaign(s) and achieved victory and won the presidency . . . do you think his behavior is what they would recommend?

[ejonesie22]

Perhaps it’s the TWO successful campaigns he had for Senate, that lead him to win MORE than ONE term in the Senate, and by sizable margins, that gives him the audacity to think his style may work.

Just an idea of course...

[2ndDivisionVet]

"What leads him to think that, on the basis of one term in the Senate, he knows better than those advisors how to win the presidency? The people who worked on the Bush campaign(s) and achieved victory and won the presidency . . . do you think his behavior is what they would recommend?"

He served almost two terms in the Senate, winning a special election when Albert Gore, Junior was elevated to the Vice Presidency, and winning reelection years later.

[NurdlyPeon]

What is the desperate reality that leads him to pursue a path that no political adviser would ever advise? What leads him to think that, on the basis of one term in the Senate, he knows better than those advisers how to win the presidency?

For every set of political experts following the script which results in winning the presidency, there is another set of political experts who follow the script which results in losing the presidency. The "script" has a success rate of exactly 50%. Thanks for your opinion, but I'll stick with Fred.

[SoConPubbie]

"What is the desperate reality that leads him to pursue a path that no political advisor would ever advise? What leads him to think that, on the basis of one term in the Senate, he knows better than those advisors how to win the presidency? The people who worked on the Bush campaign(s) and achieved victory and won the presidency . . . do you think his behavior is what they would recommend?"

Well, apparently his advisors don't agree with your assesment!

And since most of the first tier candidates are recent converts to conservatism and are lying about their past record or ducking it (Rudy, Mitt, Huckabee, and to a lessor extent McCain, presumbably on the advice of the experts you purport to respect, I am not sure your opinion on this matter is one that most people should respect!