Inside the campaign: How Mitt Romney stumbled

politico.com ^ | 9-16-12 | By MIKE ALLEN and JIM VANDEHEI

[rawhide]

Stuart Stevens, Mitt Romney’s top strategist, knew his candidate’s convention speech needed a memorable mix of loft and grace if he was going to bound out of Tampa with an authentic chance to win the presidency. So Stevens, bypassing the speechwriting staff at the campaign’s Boston headquarters, assigned the sensitive task of drafting it to Peter Wehner, a veteran of the last three Republican White Houses and one of the party’s smarter wordsmiths.

Not a word Wehner wrote was ever spoken.

Stevens junked the entire thing, setting off a chaotic, eight-day scramble that would produce an hour of prime-time problems for Romney, including Clint Eastwood’s meandering monologue to an empty chair.

Romney’s convention stumbles have provoked weeks of public griping and internal sniping about not only Romney but also his mercurial campaign muse, Stevens. Viewed warily by conservatives, known for his impulsiveness and described by a colleague as a “tortured artist,” Stevens has become the leading staff scapegoat for a campaign that suddenly is behind in a race that had been expected to stay neck and neck through Nov. 6.

This article is based on accounts from Romney aides, advisers and friends, most of whom refused to speak on the record because they were recounting private discussions and offering direct criticism of the candidate and his staff, Stevens in particular.

Stevens, in a lengthy interview Sunday afternoon, defended the campaign’s performance, refused to discuss internal conversations and insisted Romney is doing far better than the pundits portray. “Like all campaigns, we have good days and bad days. I’m happy to take responsibility for the bad days,” he said. “This is a tremendously talented team.”

[Jim Noble]

“Hard to believe that FReepers are buying this”

What I buy is that the MSM got a scare in 2004 but they’ve learned from the past, they’ve studied the masters like Goebbels, and they’re all in this time.

We are really close to the edge here. It’s not a question of us “buying this”. It’s real.

[radioone]

Romney aides, advisers and friends, most of whom refused to speak on the record

I'll stop reading right there. I don't trust Anything Politico publishes.

[Vaquero]

what an appropriate name for the MSM:

they are the FIFTH COLUMNISTS

[Jim Noble]

“almost like he does not want to win”

Well, it’s fair to say that Romney and his people saw Gingrich, Santorum, and Sarah Palin as much greater threats to the republic than they see Obama.

[mkjessup]

Time to climb back aboard the Eldridge, Morris.

Your stupidity and ignorance knows no bounds. Did they forget to empty out the coffee grounds at Site R this morning?

Regards,

Mark Jessup.

[MrDem]

Yes any other comments TOKYO ROSE?

[Timber Rattler]

Nah, I think that you're Morris...

Morris K. Jessup

...so for now on, you're just plain Morris.

[Just mythoughts]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2932255/posts

“A top strategist for Mitt Romney confirmed Sunday night that “speeches go through lots of processes and editing” after Politico first reported there were competing versions of Romney’s Tampa, Fla., convention speech. The speech Romney ultimately delivered was criticized for failing to mention Afghanistan.”

Whether we like it or not, the JonStewart media is the ever giving charitable advertising arm of the D-n-C. This so called confirmation by a top strategist for Romney about the complaint lodged means this story is not going away. Maybe the focus ought to be on the crybabies that went bellyaching to the JonStewart media in the first place.

[Lakeshark]

I'm most certain this article is totally unbiased and has no agenda.

Polutico would never lead us astray or try to dispirit the right.......

Never.

[mkjessup]

Nah, I think that you're Morris...
Morris K. Jessup
...so for now on, you're just plain Morris.

You can think what you want, but I've had the same screen name since March 2003, UNLIKE YOU, Virginia.

So man up (if it's possible Ginny) and just c'mon and tell us WHY you dropped your old screen name in favor of this toothless snake you're seeking to emulate?

[stephenjohnbanker]

” IT’S EMPTY CHAIR MONDAY! “

B U M P

[stephenjohnbanker]

What name will you post under next ?

: )

[mkjessup]

SJB to (snicker) 'Timber Rattler': "What name will you post under next?"

This one perhaps...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw_zAAxuecs /

[Timber Rattler]

We're a protected species...didn't you know that, Morris?

[mkjessup]

Another reptilian bites the dust. Memorize that, it will most likely be your epitaph, lol

[KC_Conspirator]

Romney does need to keep energeized, but this article is only meant to undermine him. Its also a anti-conservative narrative.

[Timber Rattler]

Break the law at your own peril, Morris. I ain’t going anywhere.

[stephenjohnbanker]

LOL....Morris.........

When did you change your name, Mark ? : )

[Timber Rattler]

Dense as usual...

#47

[mkjessup]

LOL....Morris.........
When did you change your name, Mark ? : )

I suppose inside the head of that stupid snake, where I'm living rent free, LOL