Governor Mitt Romney's recent rise in the polls following his debate performance last week has triggered a new conversation, focusing on the emergence of a softer, more centrist candidate. Perhaps not surprisingly, that's provoked many allusions to the "Moderate Mitt" who served as Governor of Massachusetts.
The most recent example? An interview with the Des Moines Register in which Governor Romney said that legislation on abortion would not be part of his presidential agenda. Soon after the candidate gave that interview, Team Romney issued a clarification, saying that "Gov. Romney would of course support legislation aimed at providing greater protections for life." Nevertheless, it was a telling example of the Republican nominee's recent strategy shift.
While in Iowa Governor Romney also told the story of a meeting several years ago with one of the Navy SEALs killed in the recent attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya.
The Governor had never publicly recounted the story before, but it appeared to be a further indication of Team Romney's shift toward humanizing its candidate.
Today on NOW, we'll take a look at the new Romney strategy and ask the key question - will it work? See you at noon ET on msnbc.
PANEL
Michael Eric Dyson, Georgetown U./msnbc Political Analyst (@michaeledyson)
Steve Kornacki, msnbc Co-Host, “The Cycle” (@stevekornacki)
Joy Reid, Managing Editor, TheGrio.com/msnbc Contributor (@thereidreport)
Hugo Lindgren, Editor, The New York Times Magazine (@hugolindgren)