Does it really have to get nasty?

I hate it when campaigns turn vicious, especially in a primary election.  Candidates, who are essentially comrades before an election begins compete for the loyalty and trust of voters.  Although their messages are very similar, they compete to see who can emerge at the top of the heap. There can be only one.

But, in order to differentiate themselves, they inevitably scrape each other to a bloody pulp until one victor is left at the top of the pack.  One victor emerges, but one who has been weakened and stripped by individuals who must immediately become comrades to defend, unite behind and yes, even endorse.

The process seems contradictory and self-defeating.  How strong is a weakened victor? Especially this time around when whoever wins the nomination must face an incumbent president who has a $1 billion dollar campaign fund...$1 billion dollars.

This is where we stand in this election cycle.  The scraping between the Republican candidates is getting deeper and more hurtful.  As an observer to the process, I can't help but ask, is the purpose to destroy your opponent?

Early on in the campaign, I was impressed with the campaign strategy of Speaker Newt Gingrich.  He refused to participate in destructive practices and committed over and over to run a positive campaign.  It was refreshing and inspiring.   I loved his calm approach and reminder to the candidates that they were essentially fighting for a common cause.  I'll be honest, for a minute I was really concerned that Newt's message was resonating.  It was.

However, as Mitt began to differentiate himself from Newt and the "negative ads" began to surge in Iowa, Newt made a huge mistake.  He got offended.  He took the attacks on his record too personally.  He was offended that Mitt wasn't participating in his "Positive Campaign Pledge."  But rather than defend himself and continue to remind voters of his message, Gingrich got mad.  He is now on the offense and he appears hell bent to destroy the front-runner, Mitt Romney.  (The front-runner who has demonstrated in numerous polls that he is the best contender to defeat President Obama in a general election).

Gingrich is upset about the ads that ran against him in Iowa.  I have not seen all of the ads, but from what I understand, the ads attack his record.  Did Gingrich really think that his 2008 ad with Nancy Pelosi regarding climate change was going to be overlooked?  Did he really think that his dealings with the ethics committee weren't fair game?

Why wasn't he prepared long in advance to silence those critics?  Like Herman Cain, he should have seen that train wreck coming and been prepared with a counteroffensive that kept people focused on his message.  Gingrich wasn't prepared.

This is where Mitt's campaigning has been brilliant.  Although he has attacked his opponents, he has always reminded the voters of his strengths.  He has differentiated, not destroyed.  Mitt has effectively kept people inspired by his message.  This is resonating with voters.

Gingrich is no longer on message.  In focusing on his retaliation, he is no longer inspiring.  His message is angry and now all that is left is a candidate clawing to destroy a rival.  Americans are left scratching their heads as to what his initial message was.

I am hopeful that a decisive win tomorrow in New Hampshire will remind the candidates (especially Newt), that although only one victor will emerge, the point is to find the candidate who is best suited to win in the fall and defeat President Obama.  That candidate is without a doubt, Mitt Romney.

So as the Republican rivals strive to reach the top of the heap, I hope they remember the analogy of frogs in a bucket.  If a frog is placed in an empty bucket, within minutes it can climb and hop its way out, but when multiple frogs are placed in the same bucket, they continually pull each other down and none of  them can escape.  If left long enough, all of the frogs will die.

I am hopeful that despite the multiple "frogs in the bucket," Mitt will continue to show his strengths and successfully rise to the top of the heap.  Go Mitt!