In the logic of the modern political gaffe, the more a misstatement confirms a previously held characterization of a candidate, the worse that gaffe is, regardless of its actual substance.
Enter Mitt Romney’s senior adviser Eric Fehrnstrom. When CNN asked whether Romney had shifted too far to the right during the primaries to be competitive in the general election, Fehrnstrom replied, “I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign, everything changes. It's almost like an etch-a-sketch, you can kind of shake it up and we start all over again.”
Fehrnstrom is technically right: a primary by definition plays to a party’s base, while a general election plays to broader spectrum of the electorate, meaning the races will have different messages catering to different constituencies. But the line perfectly encapsulates Republican voters’ suspicion that Romney lacks core principles. It is what has kept the candidate from securing the nomination despite his extreme financial advantage; conservatives fear that no matter what he says to them now, he’ll shake himself up like an etch-a-sketch the moment he enters the White House. Fehrnstrom’s comment unintentionally indicated that it might happen even sooner than that.
Talking Points Memo suggests this is a boon for Democratic strategists, but Romney rival Rick Santorum lost no time lampooning the statement.
“We all knew Mitt Romney didn't have any core convictions, but we appreciate his staff going on national television to affirm that point for anyone who had any doubts,” said a spokesman for Santorum’s campaign.
Fehrnstrom’s gaffe is distinct from Romney’s usual repertoire of accidentally stepping on his own wealthy tail, and highlights the challenge Romney will have in the general: he will somehow need to downplay his 1% character while simultaneously appearing authentic. It might be easier to draw the Mona Lisa on an Etch-A-Sketch.
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