His past willingness to change or shade his views for apparent political advantage resulted, over time, in one of his biggest political vulnerabilities. One close confidant said Romney sees the process like buying a company from a reluctant seller: Just do and say what you need to do to get the deal done, and then when it’s done, do what you know actually needs to be done to make the company a success. It is hard to overestimate how much confidence Romney and many around him have that he can lead once he has the power to lead.

This is Romney’s major problem: he views the American presidency as simply a deal to be closed. So you say what you need to until the deal is closed. But as stupid and irrelevant as most political campaigns are, they are in part about ideas. Public discourse and debate, even in the most frivolous of campaigns, are a vital part of the democratic process. By not speaking candidly about his ideas or plans, Romney himself is short-selling the American public.

(Source: politico.com)