Is Romney starting to panic? (4th in a series of 78) [View all]

[grantcart]

Growing up in a conservative Protestant community in a family that descended from Mormon royalty (and turned against it) I know for many Evangelicals they would rather vote for a socialist they despise than an active Mormon. The reasons for this are very specific and inherent in the Evangelical message but that explanation would bore most of you.

When you add the Tea Party resentment of Romney (he was roundly booed at the Republican/Tea Party convention in Utah last year) it is clear that there may be some support for Romney in the party but no big constituency loves him and in an all out fight he will lose support and gain no new supporters.

All of the polls have shown this to be the case, Palin/Perry/Cain/Gingrich spike and each lose 20 points and Romney picks up none.

Then there is IA.

He lost it before.

Now the latest polls shows him sinking again.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elections/state/IA/?chart=12IAPresRepPR&chart_mode=new

None of the polls show Romney leading. All of the polls show that if Romney continues to fall he could be in 4th place in IA.

So is Romney crisscrossing the state trying to save a 2nd place win in IA.

Nope

He has headed back to NH.

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/12/21/romney_begins_new_hampshire_swing.html


Mr. Romney’s support in New Hampshire “is being compromised in almost every demographic by a different candidate,” said Michael Dennehy, a longtime Republican strategist in the state who is unaffiliated with a campaign. “His support among conservative voters is being challenged by Newt Gingrich; his support from libertarian, outside conservatives is under siege by Ron Paul; and his support from undeclared, independent voters is being compromised by Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman.”

The Romney campaign, Mr. Dennehy said, “won’t say they’re worried, but there’s no doubt that they’re concerned.”

Stuart Stevens, a top strategist for Mr. Romney, said the campaign was “always worried” and played down any suggestion that the tour of the state reflected deeper unease. “It’s all we do is worry,” he said.

. . .

“If they don’t win here, there really isn’t much of a game plan,” said Jamie Burnett, Mr. Romney’s political director in New Hampshire in 2008 and a political consultant in New Hampshire who is not working for any of the Republican candidates. “That would effectively end their campaign.”

Romney is not going to emerge the leader after South Carolina, the Republicans having changed to proportional primaries will continue to Super Tuesday which will further fracture the race and lead to an open convention. cue a draft to a Republican Governor.

link to related subjects: http://www.democraticunderground.com/100245248


I know, I know, it will never happen.

So why is the Romney campaign so panicked? What do their internals show?