The black and white images form a Reaganesque ring around the concourse of the Tampa convention hall, sending an unmistakable message: This is now Mitt Romney’s Republican Party.
Romney’s convention challenges are many, beginning with what his top advisers unanimously say is their overriding goal: improve his “image” scores — meaning how voters view him on questions of likeability, empathy, and understanding the struggles of the middle class.
How much Tropical Storm Isaac interferes with Team Romney’s careful script is an open question. Publicly, as they canceled one day of the convention and juggled the agenda for others, convention organizers have kept an air of confidence they can achieve the goals despite the disruption and distraction.
Privately, however, there is a sense of frustration among some top Romney aides and advisers that the storm will steal too much of their spotlight, too much of their precious audience with the American people.
