A mentor of mine in the banking industry used to advise me to listen both to what is said and what is not said. Applying that philosophy to the Robert Gibbs interview on Meet the Press today reveals some interesting possibilities.

Gibbs was asked if the Obama campaign was afraid of a Bachmann campaign, as Bachmann opined in a recent speech. Gibbs replied with a description of all the tall tales being told by Rick Perry. What wasn’t said? By not even using Bachmann’s name in the reply, Gibbs told you that Obama has no fear of Bachmann, but he is concerned about Rick Perry. If you listen carefully to the rest of the interview you will see that Gibbs, who is on the show to deliver Obama’s message, told you who Obama is building a case against—Perry and Romney.

On the same show, Governor Mitch Daniels was asked if he would work to get any of the current candidates elected. His reply was that he would work for the eventual nominee. What wasn’t said? Daniels is hoping that someone else will enter the race, and he will gladly work for that unknown candidate. Later in the interview, Mitch Daniels didn’t say that Paul Ryan should run, but it is clear that Daniels was sending a message to Ryan—we’re behind you, get in the race.

In political training camps this is called the Pivot. When asked a question, candidates are told to stay on message and say what they came to say. I’m a horrible candidate. When asked a question I try to answer the question to the best of my ability. You’ve heard me say that Bachmann is a better candidate than I am because she stays on message. That doesn’t mean that I believe she’d be a better President, just that she follows the rules of a good campaign.

Quite a few people have asked me recently if I am considering another run for office. I keep saying no. But I’ll tell you that it won’t sit well with me if not one Democrat is willing to stand up to run for the two open county commissioner seats or the two Colorado House seats in 2012. Is it possible to be a bad candidate in four races at once?

Homework

The Hill Story About Bachmann's Claim

Staying on Message Advice for the Job Seeker

Gary Harmon, Republican first, Reporter second, breathlessly announced the results of a straw poll at a Republican luncheon in an article in today’s Sentinel. Michelle Bachmann won.

I’ve said before, and I’ll say again: I will never understand the thinking of a Republican. Michelle Bachmann will never be president of the United States; she is carrying too much baggage.

She has been worshiping at a church that claims the Pope is the AntiChrist. Catholics ought to love that comment, despite Bachmann softening it by saying, “I love Catholics.” She recently resigned from a church that she attended for years, demonstrating that her faith is subject to the whims of politics.

She and her husband get government money to pray away the gay. No scientific proof that that discredited “therapy” works…

I’ll give you one thing; she does work harder than the half-time governor Palin. Bachmann sticks to her message, and gets out a lot to deliver it. She’s been a busy lady.

But she’s also been racking up some impressive gaffes:

"Carbon dioxide is portrayed as harmful. But there isn't even one study that can be produced that shows that carbon dioxide is a harmful gas." Wiki.Answers describes effects of carbon dioxide on the environment or if you want a scientific approach, there is an entire website devoted to the  science of carbon dioxide.

"I wish the American media would take a great look at the views of the people in Congress and find out: Are they pro-America or anti-America?" We need anew era of McCarthism? Nice, Michelle.

"If we took away the minimum wage -- if conceivably it was gone -- we could potentially virtually wipe out unemployment completely because we would be able to offer jobs at whatever level." Good one Michelle, we’d have slaves instead of employees.

Go ahead, nominate her. She’ll never defeat Obama. Those pesky independent voters want someone smarter and better educated than they are.

New Hampshire traditionally holds the first primary in the nation, so a presidential candidate debate there is big news even if all of the potential candidates haven’t yet entered the race; even if the softball questions included what pizza style they prefer; and even if all but one of them stuck to GOP talking points. (God Bless Ron Paul.) Most pundits are declaring that Michelle Bachmann won that debate. I suspect that is because so many talking heads expected her to be a bit of a know nothing, or at least make one of her famous misstatements. If one performs better than expectations, plus officially announces a candidacy in the opening statement, one might grab a headline or two.

But the headline that grabbed my attention this morning was the focus of the Obama campaign. Evidently on the wall at campaign headquarters in Chicago is a list of candidates, complete with their schedules. The men the Obama campaign are following: Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, and John Huntsman. The assumption is that they are three main-stream candidates who have the wherewithal to attract money.

I blogged, quite some time ago, about Huntsman. It is my opinion that he is the candidate most likely to attract independent voters, which is what the 2012 election will come down to. Even my favorite Troll told me yesterday that he has officially left the Republican Party, and is now registered as an independent. Whether he eventually gets the nomination depends on how the GOP manages its primary voters, including those of the Tea Party persuasion. Huntsman isn’t the darling of the extreme right, but he brings to the table a good track record in Utah, and more than a passing knowledge of China.

If it is about the economy, stupid, then the elephant in the room is China. They own our debt. They are buying up resources all over the world. They make what we no longer make at home. The supreme irony is that Obama sent Huntsman to China on his behalf. Of course that is also a black mark against Huntsman in some circles. GOP primary voter circles.

Homework

Bachmann Winner At New Hampshire Debate

Obama Focus: Romney, Pawlenty, Huntsman