Romney Emerges as McCain Hit Man

Perhaps the most conspicuous sign that Mitt Romney is John McCain’s front runner for Vice Presidential candidate is how he has emerged recently as the McCain campaign’s “heavy”. He is Paulie Walnuts to McCain’s Tony Soprano.

In the last several days Romney has begin popping up on the networks defending McCain’s attack ads, condemning Obama’s responses as attacks and reducing nearly all of his positions as scant, sophomoric theories. He referred to Senator Obama’s energy position on finding alternate energy sources as “Pollyanna”.

The most gut-wrenching part of Romney throwing such blows is the mock civility with which he delivers it. There is a menu full of reasons why the Democrats would salivate over having Romney on the McCain ticket. First and foremost is that nearly everyone close to any campaign other than his own seems to despise the guy. He is the ‘Karen’ of the Republican Party. (If that didn’t make any sense, Google Dane Cook’s routine)

There is a lot to gain for McCain by bringing Romney on as the ticket’s pit-bull. The negative focus on McCain himself will shift onto Romney, leaving McCain to reprise his role as ‘straight talker’ and ‘maverick’.

As the campaign drags on, expect the McCain campaign to continue to lob negative ad after negative ad until the inch across the public’s line of acceptability. When voters have had enough, expect McCain to put Romney to work, highlighting the most transparent reason he cannot afford an inexperienced, palatable running mate. The attacks on Obama must continue, however McCain will not survive the war if he is the one engaging in the dirty fight.