Chris Matthews was hyperventilating a little while ago about how Mitt Romney’s comment about what he would say to President Obama — “start packing” — demonstrated a cold and unpleasant attitude of “entitlement” on Romney’s part, an attitude that will be a major political problem for the GOP nominee going forward. I’m sure Matthews is right: Romney will be at a huge disadvantage this year, running as he is against one of the warmest, most approachable, just-us-folks politicians that has ever graced our public life. (Think I’m being excessively harsh in my sarcasm about Obama’s lack of people skills? Check out what — yes — Chris Matthews said about Obama a few months ago.)
Sure, Romney has problems as a candidate. We have heard about these problems, ad magnam nauseam, for many, many months now, and they undeniably exist. But his situation reminds me of the old joke about the couple of guys in the woods running away from a bear. One says: “Do you think we can outrun him?” The other responds: “I don’t have to outrun him. I only have to outrun you.”