Did Romney just stumble into a winning message?

[WestVirginiaRebel]

NY Daily News:

The explosive tape wherein Mitt Romney is caught talking about his campaign strategy has been the lead story on television and in print since it leaked this past Monday. And it's put Romney on the defensive. Last night, while speaking at a Univision forum, he told the crowd his campaign wasn't just about half the country or certain voters, but "100% of America." In fact, he used the phrase "100%" three times in is opening statements alone.

But was the tape actually such a damning thing? Or did it surprisingly give Romney the message framework he's so desperately needed to jolt his campaign back on track?

Despite the feigned shock and awe of the pundit class -- which includes many slack-jawed Republicans -- over the damage Romney's comments will do, introducing the theme of dependency could turn out to be a boon for the Romney campaign.

There's plenty of evidence, in fact, that dependency -- even if Romney got the numbers wrong and managed to indict red state voters, veterans, the elderly and millionaires in the process -- is a winner in terms of voter appeal.

The Washington Post yesterday outlined just how well Romney's comments -- as well as what people perceived as his honesty -- were playing in some key states like Nevada, Florida, New Hampshire, Ohio and Wisconsin: “I worry a lot about the society we’re turning into, more of an entitlement mentality,” said Randy Schumaker, a Denver-area IT manager.

And just today, a new Rasmussen poll finds that a majority of Americans -- 64% -- think too many of us are dependent on government financial aid. Just 10% think not enough Americans are dependent on the government.

In other words, the issue Romney inartfully and insufficiently discussed at that closed-door fund raiser months ago might play pretty well.

Contrast that to the message the Obama campaign has been leaning on all year: income inequality. He's been pushing themes of the haves vs. the have nots, asking the wealthy to pay their fair share, and making sure successful people give credit (and cash) to the government for redistribution. Never mind that under President Obama, the rich have grown richer and the poor poorer, or that income inequality is worse under Obama than under George W. Bush, as Alexander Eichler explained in the Huffington Post.

The hypocrisy of Obama's income inequality hard sell is for another column. But just as a campaign issue, income inequality is pretty much a loser to this electorate.

According to many polls, income inequality doesn't rank high among voters' concerns this election year. This Gallup poll from earlier in the year has it the top economic issue for only 2% of participants. Overall, 17 economic issues ranked higher.

In the end, it's possible that income inequality and dependency may become the campaign themes that define this election. And wouldn't it be something if, thanks to a leaked video, Romney inadvertently stumbled into his best, most cogent, most salable campaign message yet?

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Turning a gaffe into a gift.