I Comment on Last Night's Iowa GOP Debate

Like a lot of my fellow pundits, I've been scratching my head about Mitt Romney's offer to bet Rick Perry $10,000 over a disagreement regarding what exactly Romney wrote in his book. In a debate where one of Romney's chief objectives ostensibly was to draw a contrast between Newt Gingrich's proclivity for irresponsible off-the-cuff remarks versus his own tendency toward care and discretion in word and deed, his unexpected offer to bet Perry (who at this point appears to be an also-ran) the value of a gently used Kia Soul on national TV seems like a serious miscue.

After discussion with my Romney campaign sources (who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are imaginary), it's clear that the $10k bet was a key cog in a deliberate and calculated Romney rebranding strategy. His campaign understands that no concerted effort on a debate stage is needed to contrast Romney's sobriety with Gingrich's bombast. Romney's real challenge is connecting with GOP Primary voters on a personal level to shed the perception that he's a programmed, robotic being. What better way to roughen up the edges of his persona than to wager half a Hyundai Sonata over a clarification that ABC News grudgingly offered at no charge in the debate's postmortem analysis?

Imagine, if you will, that you're an undecided Iowa Republican who's happened upon a Romney campaign event. Upon your arrival, you're serenaded by the dulcet tones of Kenny Rogers or Johnny Cash singing "The Gambler" as Mitt Romney struts across the stage in a Ric Flair-esque manner. I'll bet you four (4) 2001 Daewoo Nubiras that your soul would be stirred. Think about it. Everyone loves gamblers like this guy, that guy, and this other guy. Mitt Romney will never be "the candidate you'd most like to have a beer with," but for those of you looking for "the candidate with whom you'd most like to casually discuss wagering large-while-not-comically-exorbitant sums over facts that are easily ascertained even by the likes of ABC News," Mr. Romney is your candidate. Ring a bell, right up front, no doubt about it.

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Also, a friendly heads-up to "55-year old" (her words, not mine) Michele Bachmann. She might want to be careful what she wishes for. If there were such a creature as a "Newt Romney," it would currently be polling at greater than 50% with GOP and independent voters across the country. Even if Bachmann were wildly successful in her blatant pandering to all of Herman Cain's supporters, the candidate "Hermele BcCain" would trail "Newt Romney" by 20+ points.