1.) The GOP had done everything to lower expectations for them, predicting a loss of enthusiasm, empty chairs, disappointed liberals
2.) The GOP's own convention was such a dud. And they had raised expectations of their own convention. Before last week, they were conceding they needed a home run. All the polls show they didn't get anywhere close to that. Indeed, according to Gallup, Romney's convention was just the third since 1964 to receive no bounce in the polls and just the second to actually lose a point.
It must not be great to see the company Mitt has joined-McGovern 1972, and John Kerry 2004. Kerry was the only one to see a loss-like Mitt he lost a point. In many ways Romney's campaign has been like Kerry's in 2004-never able to get any traction after being defined early by the incumbent President.
CNN sums it up perfectly:
"Remember when the Democratic National Convention was supposed to be a disaster of untold proportions?"
"That's the story Republicans have been telling for months. Convention organizers were struggling to raise money. Democrats are disillusioned with Obama. The North Carolina Democratic Party is in shambles.
The GOP succeeded in lowering the bar so much that the only thing Democrats had to do Tuesday was look into the camera without drooling."
"Instead, speaker after speaker invigorated the Charlotte crowd with searing attacks against Mitt Romney and a robust call to arms for President Barack Obama."
"Then, as the night concluded, a beaming Michelle Obama spoke eloquently about her husband and reminded both the convention audience and viewers at home why she has an approval rating in the mid-60s."
"When people ask me whether being in the White House has changed my husband, I can honestly say that when it comes to his character, and his convictions, and his heart, Barack Obama is still the same man I fell in love with all those years ago," she said to cheers."
"Her testimonial about her husband's devotion to faith, family and hard work -- and her recollection of their shared humble beginnings -- was the indisputable highlight of the night for Democrats eager to draw a human contrast with Romney, the stiff and buttoned-up Republican nominee."
I can't even categorize in one post how many highlights there were. So many great speeches! Former Governor Strickland searing Romney:
"He accused Romney of straight-up "lying" about Obama's record on welfare. He said Romney is obsessed with "Bermuda shell corporations" where he can hide his investments without paying taxes in the United States. And he said that if Mitt was Santa Claus, "he'd fire the elves and liquidate the inventory."
"Mitt Romney has so little economic patriotism that even his money needs a passport," Strickland boomed. "It summers on the beaches of the Cayman Islands, and winters on the slopes of the Swiss Alps."
"Tough talk? Yes. But it blew the roof off the arena in Charlotte -- just what the Democrats needed on the opening night of the convention."
"And it wasn't just the convention crowd that loved it. Obama campaign headquarters in Chicago exploded in cheers after Strickland finished his speech, a source in the office told CNN."
There was one of my own personal favorites, Governor Deval Patrick, the first Black Governor of the state of Massachusetts-my home state for a bunch of years(though I'm glad to be back in the home country of New York!). The Governor is a great witness to what a Mitt Romney government looks like and it wasn't pretty. Note that Mitt tends to undersell his time there.
There was Julian Castro, the Mayor of San Antonio with a great speech that gets to the heart of the issue:
Mitt Romney flat out just doesn't get it.
He has never known hard times in his entire patrician life. This doesn't make him a bad person-FDR was also a patrician. However, the difference is that while FDR had the common touch, Mitt has a congenital lack of empathy and imagination that makes him clueless about the real America that we all live in-love certainly, but lately have struggled in far too much.
Chris Matthews thinks that Mayor Castro could be the Hispanic Barrack Obama; as Matthews was maybe the first to recognize the original Barrack Obama, we ought to heed his words. This is a guy who knows.
I was also thrilled to hear Jimmy Carter speak. It is so great that he lived long enough to vote twice for Barrack Obama.
To think that the Romney campaign thinks it's salvation is running against Jimmy Carter. Americans love Jimmy Carter, they recognize that he's a good and decent man, and unlike Mitt Romney he cares about those who have less in the world not just in our country but worldwide.
On the other hand no one likes George W. Bush. Which is why Democrats embrace President Carter and Republicans won't even allow cameras in the room when they want to talk to Bush or his Vice President.
Ted Kennedy even from the grave had the lines of the night. He told us who Mitt Romney really is:
"I have supported Roe V. Wade. I am pro-choice," Kennedy said. "My opponent is multiple choice."
The video also included a clip of Kennedy railing against his then-opponent for aligning himself too close to Democratic views: "Now he's for minimum wage. Now he's for education reform. If we give him two more weeks, he may even vote for me, because those are things that I am for."
Mitt Multiple Choice. I love it. The Dems need to use this a lot. What I noticed today is that even the Wall Street Journal seems like it may be trying to get used to a second Obama term. They didn't even try to argue with last night's convention but spent time wrapping the President's knuckles for not being like Bill Clinton.
If the Republicans could see their dearest fantasy realized it would be that Clinton spoke at their convention.
The WSJ actually had a page in their editorial section with different Democratic writers suggesting that a second Obama term-with at least a GOP House-might be able to get done.
The WSJ did say that Romney didn't close the deal last week and that the Dems have an opening. Last night was a great start.
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