It's Not Because Mitt's Mormon

KSL in Salt Lake City reported on Politico.com's founder's view that while still the inevitable Republican nominee (as this blogger has always said), Romney is limping to the finish line of the nomination by self-inflicted wounds. His religion may play a part, but Romney is his own worst enemy for his insincerity and inability to connect with the average voter (particularly, the average base-voter of the Republican party).

I think that part of this is Romney's Mormonism, but in a very odd way. Romney at his core is Mormon. His faith and family are the most important things in his life. And in Mormonism those are practically the same thing. Romney, to his credit, does not want to reveal those most deeply held and private aspects of his life. So he hides behind his corporate money-making professionalism. That is all real too, and could even be somewhat helpful in the managerial role required as president, but his self-marketing campaign smacks of insincerity reminding us of the old question about Nixon, "Would you buy a used car from this man?"

I'm not even saying that Romney is as crooked as Nixon or anything like that. I repeat that it is to Romney's credit that he is shielding his private religious life to an extent. It's even Constitutional as there should be "no religious test" applied to any candidate for public office (Article VI of the U.S. Constitution), even if the base of his party hasn't quite grasped that divinely-inspired principle.

And then today, one of his campaign advisers talks about preparation for the general election is like shaking an Etch-a-Sketch and starting over. I understand what he means, it just didn't come out so well.

Shake and retake

At least Romney got endorsed by Jeb Bush today.

Oops. Shake it and start over.