Romney Can Win—if He Goes Beyond Applause Lines

There's a school of thought out there that Mitt Romney can win by not saying or doing much of anything. In fact, Romney himself seems to have bought into the philosophy judging by his recent speeches, writes Peggy Noonan in the Wall Street Journal. They're filled with superficial "applause lines" and not much substance. "It's working, but won't for long," she writes. "People want meaning, a higher and declared purpose."

That's especially true in a time of crisis, and 2012 certainly qualifies. Romney "has to start pulling from his brain and soul a coherent and graspable sense of the meaning of his run. 'I will be president for this reason and this. I will move for this and this.'" He must convince Americans of his "larger purpose." Obama keeps stumbling of late, but Romney is making a foolish mistake if he thinks he can just sit back and watch. "That won't do this year." Read her full column here. (More Mitt Romney 2012 stories.)