Republicans fear repeating gaffes of the past

Like the former president Richard Nixon, Mitt Romney puts his foot in it more often than not. But don’t write him off, says Jack Shafer

BE CAREFUL about writing Mitt Romney’s political obituary before they fill him with formaldehyde and pour him into his mahogany condo.

Like that other frequent Republican presidential candidate, Richard Nixon, Romney has a remarkable talent for stepping into it, sinking, and soiling himself rotten as he extricates himself.