Iowa Approaches: The Search For The Uncola

The political classes never like to leave us alone, so this New Year’s weekend news cycle will be dominated by the Iowa caucuses. Who’s up? Who’s Down? Inquiring minds want to know!

This election reminds me of a memorable ad campaign of yesteryear, the “Uncola” theme adopted by 7-Up in its battles with the cola giants. The ads positioned the product as the lemony fresh, caffeine-free alternative to the conventional cola offerings- all sunshine and spring and rejuvenating vibes.

America could use some of the latter. Contrary to the stratospheric expectations raised by his 2008 campaign, President Obama has cast a shadow across the national psyche. The economy is in the tank, his regulation-drunk minions forever keep trying to pry further into the nooks and crannies of our personal lives, and foreign affairs, to put it mildly, are a mess. In Obama’s America, it is always winter, and he always seems to be luxuriating somewhere while the nations scrimps and struggles and deals with the winter of its soul.

Not surprisingly, the GOP presidential race is following the “Uncola” paradigm. This was never going to be a “Me,too!” campaign. It’s all about convincing the party’s voters that one has the charisma, the guts, the presence, the energy to take Obama’s record on, throw him out and bring about change.

For a while it looked like Herman Cain could do it. His rising poll numbers in 2011 were no surprise to those long impressed by his presence and message. But his personal fault lines, well played by his political enemies (many depressingly on the right), torpedoed his candidacy.

Then for a while it looked like Newt could do it, with his brainy, policy-wonk debating skills. But Newt is always Newt, and the ghosts of Marriages Past, not to mention Policy Positions Past, can always be counted upon to turn up at the most inopportune times.

So now we are where we are. Conservatives may not prefer a Mitt Romney candidacy, but it’s looking awfully good for the governor right now. Michelle Bachmann’s primary contribution was to help sink the charisma-challenged Tim Pawlenty. Rick Santorum basically annoys people apart from convinced social conservatives, and even many of them don’t really like him. Neither are plausible national candidates.

Rick Perry has recovered from his earlier stumbles, is mounting an impressive ground game in Iowa, and is well-funded. He’s the big question mark in January. Can he get enough momentum going to survive? And is the nation really ready for another Texas governor? As for Ron Paul, he is obviously very popular among his cult followers. Who are not Republicans. But the space cadet contingent can only get you so far. If he wins Iowa in a big way, it will sink the importance of the state in future nomination battles.

So we are left with Mitt. Conservatives are justifiably very skeptical about him. He was not my preferred candidate. But there is no doubt that he can go all the rounds in any fight, with his ground game and immense financial resources. And if he gets the nomination, he will have earned it- this has been no coronation. And it will be a pleasure to see him energetically assert the message of American exceptionalism that has been so trashed by the Obama crowd. In this cycle, that’s enough for me!