The Romney campaign's debate strategy: Try to appear human, not suck

Also: Try not to smirk. In preparing for the debates, Romney advisers have given National Review a look inside their bold operation of boldness. Their plan for the upcoming debates? Have Mitt Romney try to not suck so much.

Romney's advisers have a simple strategy: They want their candidate to balance his finely tuned arguments with personal warmth. Since Romney is a reserved man, his advisers acknowledge that it will be difficult for him to endear himself to the country, especially under the hot studio lights. But they consider it critical. 'This is really about introducing  him to the country,' a Romney adviser says. 'It's the largest audience he has ever had. Everybody's watching.'

Yes. Yes, try to get Romney to display personal warmth. Genius'why did nobody try that before?

During prep sessions in Vermont this past month, Romney has worked tirelessly on the stylistic aspect of his presentation, and Romney's advisers predict that the former Massachusetts governor will come across as both presidential and empathetic. Rather than fire off brusque retorts, as he often did during primary debates, Romney will take care 'to speak in paragraphs about the economy,' a second aide says.

Empathy used to be bad. Now it's good again, and Mitt Romney's going to have a go at it. Also, he's going to speak in paragraphs. More genius!

Romney confidants are eager to counteract his reputation for aloofness. They want Romney to forcefully elucidate how the president is disconnected from the unemployed. Romney is inclined to talk about his business experience, sources say, and he may share stories from the trail, especially anecdotes about the recession's impact on families and small businesses.

"Why, on the campaign trail I met lots of unemployed people. Hell, some of them I fired myself! I really connect with the little guy, you know what I'm saying? Because empathy and I feel your pain and shit. Now make me president, damn it."

I cannot imagine this going well. In fact, this all sounds like such a potential car wreck that I half wonder if his aides are saying this stuff in yet another attempt to ratchet down expectations. Mitt Romney doesn't have to make sense, or have ideas, or be truthful, or "win" the debate on merits'he just has to stand under the hot lights, not get flop-sweat, and do something, anything that might make the audience feel like maybe he's not a gigantic ass after all. That'll be what counts as a victory to them.

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