Posted by Ezra Klein on September 17, 2012

There are two sure signs a campaign is in trouble. The first is that it begins changing its strategy rapidly and erratically. The second is that it begins attacking its strategists fiercely and anonymously.

The Romney campaign is in trouble.

First came the changes in strategy. It went from doing everything possible to assure a “referendum” election to picking Paul Ryan as the vice presidential nominee and going for a choice election. It went from focusing relentlessly on the economy to cycling among welfare, Medicare and Libya. The latest ad is about manufacturing jobs in China.

Now we’re hearing the calls for a change in strategists. On Sunday night, Politico published a 2,700-word piece mostly dedicated to giving “Romney aides, advisers and friends” space to knife Stuart Stevens, Mitt Romney’s top strategist. “I always have the impression Stuart must save his best stuff for meetings I’m not important enough to attend,” one Romney campaign insider told Politico. “The campaign is filled with people who spend a lot of their time either avoiding him or resisting him.”

Ouch.

MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezr ... -save-him/

After watching Ed and Rachel on MSNBC last night as they played the video of Mitt Romney and his rich donors talking about throwing 47% of Americans under the bus, I can't wait to see what the Romney campaign will look like in the coming days...but they'll probably spin it so their base will continue to support them. I just hope all that's being exposed about Mitt Romney will make lazy Democrats and Independents get out and VOTE for Obama in November. If they don't, it doesn't matter how much trouble the Romney campaign is in...it will still result in a victory for him. The Repubs will vote...and the only way to counter that is to make sure more Dems vote for Obama than Repubs vote for Romney.

How the Romney video leaked: For Carters, it was personal

The self-described Atlanta-based "oppo researcher" who helped broker the release of the secret video that has rocked the Romney campaign got a congratulatory email today from his famous grandfather -- former President Jimmy Carter.

FANTASTIC READ...REVEALS HOW THE "47% VIDEO" WAS LEAKED TO MOTHER JONES...VIA DAVID CORN!

WHO WAS AT THAT $50,000 A PLATE FLORIDA FUNDRAISER?

As Mother Jones reported yesterday, speaking at a private fundraiser in Florida this May, Mitt Romney expressed his disdain for "the 47 percent" of Americans who are "dependent upon government," "believe that they are victims," and "will vote for the president no matter what." The event was held at the Boca Raton home of private equity manager Marc Leder, who has donated $225,000 to the pro-Romney super-PAC Restore Our Future and $63,330 to the Romney Victory PAC. Employees of his firm, Sun Capital Partners, have given more than $970,000 to the Romney campaign and its related PACs in this election cycle (including donations from spouses).

So who else was on hand for Romney's "off the cuff" remarks at Leder's spread on May 17? According to the TC Palm, 150 people attended the $50,000-per-plate event. The guest list hasn't been made public, but some possible attendees can be picked out of campaign finance records.

THERE'S A CHART AT THE LINK WHICH SHOWS MANY OF THE DONORS...

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/09 ... er-florida

Full Transcript of the Mitt Romney Secret Video

COVERED:

On the 47 percent

On the dividends of his anticipated November 6 victory:we'll see—without actually doing anything—we'll actually get a boost in the economy."

On the "almost unthinkable prospects" for Mideast peace: "I look at the Palestinians not wanting to see peace anyway…and I say there's just no way."

Mocking immigration in the United States: "[If] you have no skill or experience…you're welcome to cross the border and stay here for the rest of your life."

Envisioning a pre-election hostage crisis, à la Iran and Jimmy Carter: "If something of that nature presents itself, I will work to find a way to take advantage of the opportunity."

Joking about media strategy and his reputation as a "rich, rich guy": "You know that I'm as poor as a church mouse."

ETC.....

SHOCKEROO! NO MENTION OF THE 47% IN TONIGHT'S FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE!

THE PRESIDENT SEEMED TIRED AND WAY OFF HIS GAME, WHILE ROMNEY WAS RUDE, AGGRESSIVE, AND LIKED LYING ALMOST AS MUCH AS HE LIKED THE SOUND OF HIS OWN VOICE. BUT UNLESS OBAMA DOES BETTER BETWEEN NOW AND THE ELECTION, WE'LL HAVE A ROMNEY/RYAN TEAM AT THE HELM OF THE COUNTRY....AND THAT'S VERY SCARY.