Romney’s Mentions: ‘Cause of Wins or “Etch-e-Sketch?”

Mentions Remain High for Mitt, but Gaffes Surround his Name

At 50.3 percent of total mentions, according to television information engine Boxfish.com, Mitt Romney has a firm hold on the first place spot for television mentions between the four candidates. However, his name has become mired in negativity in light of the former Massachusetts governor’s senior campaign advisor, Eric Fehrnstrom, comparing Romney’s supposed plan to reposition his campaign platform to a more centrist view come the general election to shaking an Etch-A-Sketch to erase the image.

Fehrnstrom’s comment, reported by CNN: ” ‘I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes,’ Fehrnstrom responded. ‘It’s almost like an Etch-A-Sketch. You can kind of shake it up, and we start all over again.’ “

Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich were quick to jump on the comment, each affirming his position that Romney is not a true conservative. The attacks on the GOP frontrunner have not boosted their respective mentions numbers, however. Boxfish.com’s figures show that Santorum, while still in second, has dropped 3 points in his mentions from yesterday to today, where he currently sits at 32.1 percent of total mentions. Gingrich is in third with 10.1 percent.

Ron Paul, although not finishing dead last in the Illinois primary, is going on three weeks as being the last-mentioned candidate in the race. His 7.5 percent of mentions today, according to Boxfish.com’s data, is just over 2 percent of yesterday’s figure for Paul.