Obama's Ad a Brilliant Political Pivot

This is quite similar to the tactic employed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Each time bipartisan consensus is reached to find money for a policy priority, like extending low interest student loans, he offers a bill to raise taxes on high-income Americans. He knows Republicans will block such class warfare, and the president can then crow that he stands up for ordinary folk while Republicans stand up for the wealthy.

Yet, Romney is to blame for not turning the debate to the economy and his solutions. He has criticized the president's record but not with the showmanship and skill of the Obama-to-Booker-to-Obama triple play.

Mayor Booker played the shill so well -- he deserves an academy award for Best Supporting Actor.

More importantly Romney, by focusing on his private-sector experience, is not effectively explaining how his solutions on China, energy, banking and health care will work, make a difference and create jobs.

Sadly, with each passing day, Romney looks like another hopeful from Massachusetts -- John Kerry. Both dress up well, but under the intense lights of a national campaign they are easily outwitted by a wily incumbent.