Mitt Romney Blindsided by Mitt Romney's "Live Mike"

Mitt Romney

With several factors in place that typically assure victory, Mitt Romney sabotaged his own presidential campaign with remarks not always meant for a national audience that became national, revealing how he actually felt inside about the multi-ethnic, diverse electorate.

Romney's sometimes inappropriate remarks remind one of the "live mike" indiscretions a candidate mutters under his breath, referring to a reporter or opponent as a "sonofabitch," then hastily with a smiling face tries to explain away.

Before a group of supporters, Romney suggested that 47% would vote for his opponent no matter what because they viewed themselves as victims who needed the government to take care of them.  He said they felt they were entitled to housing, health care and food.  Regardless of what Romney meant, the comment reflected a certain insensitivity, smugness from a person born with money.

After Obama bailed out Chrysler and General Motors in 2008, Romney wrote a column entitled "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt!"  That unfortunate line was not forgotten by swing state voters heavily dependent on the auto industry for jobs and local economics, even with Romney explaining what he actually proposed.

While Romney said he would like to "staple a green card to every Ph.D" in private he implied that most undocumented lacked skill and experience.  He even spoke of hypothetical "self-deportation."  Again, his comments on immigration displayed neither understanding nor sensitivity.

The unfortunate "binders of women" comment in reference to the woman available to work in his administration as governor, showed a flippant disregard for over 50% of voters.

In a long campaign, the insensitivity, the boorishness adds up.  It killed Romney, even in an economy barely  recovering in four years from historic lows.