TPM2012

Jon Stewart: Romney’s ‘Superficiality’ Is The Key To His Strategy (VIDEO)

Jon Stewart

Jon Stewart on Thursday took on the campaign of Mitt Romney — or, as he’s better known, “the uncontested frontrunner for everyone’s second choice for the Republican nomination.”

Over the past year, Stewart reported, Romney’s polling numbers have been fairly consistent: hovering around 20 percent. “How has he managed to neither gain nor lose support, to remain inert?” Stewart asked. “If he were a color, he’d be beige.”

Well, here’s how. Back in June, Romney wrote a Facebook post in support of an Ohio measure to curtail collective bargaining rights. Fast forward to this week, when Romney went from having no position on it, to saying he is “110 percent” behind Ohio Gov. John Kasich on the issue.

“On a superficial level, Romney’s superficiality would seem to be a detriment in ever moving beyond his 23 percent,” Stewart said. “But I believe his superficiality is the key to his strategy. He has clearly surveyed the Republican field and decided, ‘I think 23 percent is enough to beat any of these yahoos.’”

Watch the video:

David Taintor

David Taintor is TPM’s News Editor. He contributes to TPM’s Livewire coverage, among other areas. David is from Chanhassen, Minnesota, where, yes, it gets very cold. Reach him at taintor [at] talkingpointsmemo.com

Top Stories From TPM

Oklahoma GOP Sen. Tom Coburn Will Seek To Offset Tornado Aid

Secret Service Looking Into Radio Host’s Graphic Violent Comments About Obama, Hillary Clinton

GOP Nominee In Virginia Praised Three-Fifths Clause As An ‘Anti-Slavery Amendment’

VA GOP's Attorney General Nominee Wanted Women To Report Miscarriages To Police Or Face Jail Time

The NRA Thinks These Are The ‘Coolest Gun Movies’ Ever

McCain, Collins Slam Republicans For Budget Hypocrisy

Disqus Conversations

Click here to read the Disqus Commenting FAQ.

Editor & Publisher

Josh Marshall

Managing Editor

David Kurtz

Associate Editor

Nick Martin

Assistant Editor

Igor Bobic

Reporters

Brian Beutler

Sahil Kapur

Eric Lach

Hunter Walker

Frontpage Editor

Zoë Schlanger

News Writers

Tom Kludt

Video Editor

Michael Lester

General Manager & General Counsel

Millet Israeli

VP, Ad Sales

Bruce Ellerstein

Associate Publisher

Kyle Leighton

Assistant To The Publisher

Joe Ragazzo

Designer/Developer

Matthew Wozniak

Design Associate

Christopher O’Driscoll