Mitt, the Unapproachable

Mitt Romney’s problem is… Mitt Romney. This charming great guy, as his wife describes him, doesn’t come across so well with the public. What U.S. author LZ Granderson writes about him reflects the opinion of many Americans.

Ann Romney really tried. The Republican candidate’s wife has been saying the same words into every microphone she encounters: Mitt is a caring father, Mitt is a loving husband, Mitt is a great guy. Romney’s campaign strategy has focused on this theme, too. Reporters were afforded the opportunity to observe Mitt Romney on vacation with his family in New Hampshire. They read how he stood faithfully at his wife’s side with counsel and support when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and multiple sclerosis. All in all, it was a well thought out and perfectly executed charm offensive. The only problem is it wasn’t successful.

Americans still don’t much care for Mitt Romney. Or, said differently, they care a lot more for incumbent President Barack Obama. Romney was again obliged to read the latest survey results that place him far behind Obama. Under the heading “likability,” 54 percent of respondents chose Obama and only 31 percent opted for Romney.

The problem is Romney himself. He can’t convince people that he’s just like them. That he has also gone through rough patches in his life. He not only comes across as unapproachable, he really is unapproachable. Plus, he’s made many mistakes. He refuses to show voters any details about his income taxes, saying only that he has never paid less than the 13 percent tax rate. And he did so while his net worth exceeds $250 million.

Romney Is One of Those Who Always Has the Right of Way

Romney has been described as being out of touch with everyday Americans — as a man whose immense wealth distances him from normal people whenever he wants to get closer to them. But he’s the one responsible for that perception. For example, when he tried to show his support for the U.S. automobile industry by saying that his wife drove “a couple of Cadillacs.” Or when he said he wasn’t particularly concerned about the poor. Or when he said he loves to fire people. LZ Granderson wrote, “There are moments in some of Romney’s speeches in which he comes across like the guy who doesn’t wave when you let him into traffic, because in his mind, he was able to merge on his own.”

Romney’s campaign team appears to have come to the conclusion that they’ll never succeed in turning him into anyone’s best buddy. They’ve since reverted to the feeble economy as their campaign theme. And they might find some success with that, because even Romney critics admit that the election won’t be decided on personal popularity.

Granderson says, “That doesn’t mean people won’t vote for him in November. It’s just that they won’t be doing so because they like him.”