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Over the past week, Romney has hit the campaign trail energized and animated. "I love America! I love you! I love the work you do!" Romney shouted to an audience of 3,000 in Virginia Beach, Va. With a pithy line, he sharpened his criticism of Obama's handling of the economy. "He has a campaign slogan, which is `Forward.' I think `Forewarned' is a better term," Romney said at a Florida fundraiser. And in Ohio, Romney struck an empathetic tone as he sought to connect with voters struggling with a tough economy. "These are real families. These are real people," Romney said. "I was with a miner who said, `Please help me keep my job.'" Observers have noticed a change in the candidate who struggles to connect with his audiences and is tagged by critics as less than charismatic and even out of touch. "He's turned into a different person," said Lillian Glass, a Los Angeles-based body language expert. "He's become more passionate, more emotional, more dynamic, a communicator." That burst of enthusiasm dovetailed with a round of national polls that showed Obama opening up a slight lead in what had been a deadlocked race
-- causing a round of second-guessing among Republican insiders about the state of the campaign. "Romney can still win but few at bats left," GOP strategist Alex Castellanos, who worked for Romney in 2008, wrote on Twitter. "Still think an Obama 2nd term (equals) disaster. Just haven't heard why Romney would be better. I remain hopeful." Amid the angst, Romney pollster Neil Newhouse released a post-convention memo that called Obama's uptick "a sugar high," and added: "Don't get too worked up about the latest polling." Romney aides are cautioning Republican naysayers to be patient, arguing that he is within striking distance in each of the handful of states where the two campaigns are focusing their travel time, campaign staff and advertising dollars. They say if Romney can stay close or make gains, undecided voters will break for the challenger. The campaign and the candidate's posture these days are reminiscent of how Romney acted and the strategy he employed last winter during the primary season after former House Speaker Newt Gingrich soundly beat him in South Carolina. Romney responded by sharpening his attacks in next-up Florida, and he benefited as an outside group unleashed millions of dollars of television advertising against Gingrich. Romney also turned in a strong debate performance just before the primary. Romney ended up winning Florida and the nomination. The next few weeks will determine whether he can do the same against Obama.
[Associated
Press;
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