I am voting for Barack Obama.
That said, Mitt Romney has shown an adept understanding of the political necessities of running for president in a party governed by the remnants of the Tea Party.
Governor Romney knew that primary season would be rough, but he also knew that it was his chance to convince reliable voters of the religious and economic far right that he, a centrist businessman from Massachusetts, could be a candidate for them. Mitt rose to the challenge well, adapting his stances on abortion, gay rights, healthcare, and a host of other issues accordingly.
When the general election finally rolled around, Mitt’s calculus paid off: the far right was behind him, either convinced of his bona fides or as protest votes against the Obama administration. Either way, Romney was free to focus on the middle, especially in debates.
Now, the Obama campaign has been forced to campaign on so-called “wedge issues,” the exact thing that the Hope and Change of 2008 sought to dispel permanently from American politics: abortion, primarily, but also equal pay. This isn’t new–campaigns often seek to differentiate themselves from their opponent by highlighting the most divisive issues on the political spectrum. But as a Democrat, it’s a bit disappointing to see the forward-thinking campaign of 2008 devolve into a politics of fear.