As bad as the original interview was, Romneys reaction simply confirms the perception that Romney will have trouble in a general election. If he cant handle totally legitimate questions from Baier, and his team will not let him appear before the Center Seat panel, then how will he hold up when the media and Team Obama gang up on him?
Newt Gingrich, by contrast, had a great interview on Hannity last night. (Newt previously appeared on Center Seat.) Its well worth watching the whole thing (video at bottom of post).
There simply is no other candidate running who has the command of the issues, the vision of how to take on Obama, and the ability to communicate a positive message. On Hannity, Newt gave a commanding performance before an audience of two million people, plus a lot more when the interview is run in pieces on news shows.
Mitt Romneys campaign is planning its attack on Newt, figuring its bank account and organization will prevail:
Romneys strategists are gaming out scenarios. They say they understand the risk that, in a multi-candidate field, any attack they make against Gingrich could boomerang to hurt Romney and help a third candidate.
Taking on Gingrich is going to be a process, one adviser said. Its not going to be an overnight kind of a thing, unless he steps in it. But he seems less likely than the others to do that.
Across the country, many of Romneys donors and political supporters said there is no sense of panic over Gingrich. Romneys network takes comfort in the great financial and organizational advantages that he has amassed to help him survive a potentially grueling nomination fight.
All the kings horses and all the kings men may not be enough for Romney.
Video of Newts interview on Hannity via Right Scoop.