But the polls show he is not losing by much at the moment. But these elections go at different paces. Unemployment rates are suppressing any bounce for Obama in the immediate term. But in the 'now to November' term, Romney is getting thrashed.
It began last month with a rare agressive move from the Democrats to raise the issue of his departure from Bain Capital and refusal to disclose any more than the minimum of tax returns. It means the issue is alive between now and election day. It fits in with the narrative of him being massive wealthy and with offshore trusts. It will become relevant all over again when he picks his VP choice and what returns they are willing show.
His selective tour of Europe and Middle East was in diplomatic terms "a car wreck." He failed to demonstrate elementary political insight and acted like a large-checked know all yank tourist. His first mistake was to upset the US's greatest ally, the UK and unite a divided nation against him, culminating in a scoffing public putdown from the PM. His panderng in Israel to the Florida Jewish vote was embarrassing and grossly insulting to the Palestinians whose poverty was attributed to a different "culture" without mentioning the economic blockade. His reference to the "hand of providence" to economic development also added to Romney's image as a religious nut.
The Republicans have been playing a long game too. In many swing states such as Ohio, Florida and Virginia they have changed voter registration rules to make it much harder to vote. For example discontinuing early voting which would mostly apply to working classes who will certainly favour Obama.
The critical episode will be the debates, where they meet one-on-one. Here the President will more easily expose, through his superior debating skills, Romney's "voodoo" economic plan which will coincidentally benefit millionaires like him.
Americans will want to re-elect Obama but whether they still can when they get to the voting booth is another matter.
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