I wonder if Romney will stick to his basic speech about being a strong capitalist. That is how

[applegrove]

Stephen Harper's conservatives won in Canada last spring. They had this line about being Canada's 'stable government' and they never deviated from the script. Even when there was good opportunity to trounce the opposition in a debate, Harper stuck to his baseline. He may not have won any debates but he did win the election.

We'll know in a few days in Romney is going to stick to his basic speech or not. He doesn't even give interviews that could take him off message. If he doesn't go after Gingrinch we will know he is using Harper's strategy (I call it Harper's strategy, but we all know Harper gets lots of election advice from the USA).

[Tx4obama]

1. It will be interesting to see what happens tonight at the GOP debate :)

Info here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/12513474

p.s. I'll betcha Newt and Mitt will go after each other big time

[napoleon_in_rags]

2. Its all about Romney being "successful".

200 million of personal wealth equals "successful", not "wealthy". (His own words, he won't call himself rich) He has 200 million so he has "succeeded". Ergo if you do not have 200 million than you did not succeed. IF you did not succeed than you failed. IS this the talk that the base responds to? I'm sure they have people who feel feel successful based on a good family and life well lived... will they tolerate the pomposity of it? Like an athlete who defines everybody without Olympic gold as a "failure"? That's the fundamental question - whether social conservatives can stomach the elitism.

[ellisonz]

3. He's banking on repetition.

Challenge Romney firmly and he goes off message. He'll lose by an embarrassing margin. They're better off with Newt and are starting to figure that out; at least he can hold the South and the GOP mid-west/mountain west.

[applegrove]

4. The basic speech will be the economy. Saw a Romney supporter on CNN who said

we stopped talking about the economy in the days leading up to SC. We need to get back to that.