Una semana complicada para Romney

The Hill:

Mitt Romney’s campaign showed signs of strain this week as Newt Gingrich rose in the polls, Democrats increased their attacks and the former Massachusetts governor stumbled in a national interview.

Romney’s strength lies in his ability to stay focused on his economic message and avoid being sucked into other fights.

But a series of rare hiccups this week — including a contentious interview with Fox News host Bret Baier and an over-the-top response to Democratic attacks — have shown some cracks in his operation.

“It certainly hasn’t been a good week,” said Al Cardenas, who worked for Romney in 2008 but has remained officially neutral in the race because he now runs the American Conservative Union.

Strategists say no long-term damage has been done, but caution that Romney needs to get back on message soon — especially with the early-nominating contests approaching (the Iowa caucus is Jan. 3 and the New Hampshire primary is Jan. 10).

“He’s run an almost flawless race up to this point, and this week for the first time you saw a series of missteps by the campaign and the candidate,” said one unaffiliated senior Republican strategist. “What led him to have the bad interview is what’s dangerous — getting concerned about Gingrich, not being as disciplined and getting agitated. If these are a pattern that continues over the upcoming weeks, he could have a problem. His strength is his [message] discipline and being able to talk about the economy. If he gets undisciplined and talks about other things that’s going to be a problem.”

(...) Romney had some high points this week: He secured endorsements from a key trio of Cuban-American Florida legislators and a top New Hampshire Republican. But the Fox interview and the back-and-forth with Democrats dominated most conversations about the candidate.

“The question is, is this just a bad week or the onset of a tough period, a new phase of the campaign in which he’s increasingly on the attack, off his game a little bit and unable to deliver the consistent message he has been saying?” asked the unaffiliated Republican strategist. “People for the first time are seeing the campaign go through a bit of a rough patch. If that rough week becomes a rough month you’ve got a problem.”