Advisers Say Romney Will Show Empathy In Debate

[haele]

80. They probably think "If Reagan could do it..."

But then, Reagan was a trained actor to some degree, and had quite a lot of experience playing the harmless, congenial honest working man that could possibly be viewed as being "empathetic" before he went into politics, so he was pretty decent at "winging" it on stage and sounding as if he knew and felt what he was talking about. He was also pretty much working class growing up, so he did have some experience with regular working people.

I don't think Mitt has the talent to create a persona and live within that "skin" of the average american for any length of time, let alone deal with the complexity of creating a concerned presidential leader of "the people" persona.
The only persona he's ever been able to pull off is the successful financier/executive. Not a role as a real businessman/business owner mind you, but as a rich guy who works with other rich guys and with money.

Acting is a talent - or at least a skill that takes lots of practice to pull off. I don't think Romeny has the time - or interest - to learn what he needs to learn to pull off the Reagan role I think his handlers want him to. I don't even think he has the time to learn to pull off GWB's bored goof-ball frat-boy personality.

Haele