Where’s Mitt?

Every day, Daily Kos lists the scheduled campaign appearances by the candidates and their spouses.

For at least the last two weeks, I’ve been gobsmacked (love that word, borrowed it from Bryan Alvarez over at Wrestling Observer) by the virtual absence of Mitt Romney from the campaign trail. He’s doing private fundraising events and apparently devoting his every other waking moment to, um, debate preparation, but next-to-no  public campaigning. While I understand that Romney is not exactly the most charismatic guy, these events are essential, not only for prospective voters, but especially for supporters, volunteers, party organizations, and, yes, other candidates.Not to mention the free media that such visits generate. Plus, I assume that at least some R’s still want to win this presidential thingy.

Take today, for example. The Obamas are in Wisconsin for two events. Can you imagine how many volunteers he’s gonna galvanize today? Do you think Tammy Baldwin will be by his side? Can you imagine the tremendous boost of morale this visit provides to his grassroots-style organizations? And these campaigners will not be bound by state lines, they’ll be all over the upper midwest. Grassroots campaigns have such built-in flexibility.

The Bidens are in New Hampshire. They have been doing quite a few events at field headquarters in swing states. Why? Because the Obama campaign has placed a tremendous importance on the ground game. Early voting has started, and/or is starting, in several states.   This at a time when (a) Obama enjoys a healthy lead in the polls; and (b) the Obama field organization has it all over the clumsy top-down Romney organization. Who do you think is gonna bank more votes prior to Election Day in key states? That’s part of the not-so-secret Obama strategy.

Paul Ryan is doing his bit, and has been doing his bit. He’s in Florida for two events today, where presumably he’ll talk about the end of Medicare as he envisions it.

But, political parties, especially, need to see their standard bearers. You can’t build any enthusiasm or momentum without them. It’s also a killer for down-ballot contests. And don’t think that Republican leaders throughout the country haven’t noticed:

Romney has only held 15 campaign rallies since accepting the Republican nomination 21 days ago — much of his time being devoted to closed-door private fundraisers — so the intensified pace is a marked change as Election Day nears.

His schedule has drawn some criticism from Republican allies, who believe Romney should focus more on retail politics.

“I think what Romney needs to do is get into Virginia and run for sheriff,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told CNN on Wednesday. “This is not rocket science.”

So, go on with your debate prep, Mitt. Keep trying to raise the dollars your campaign once claimed that you had. Even when, or if, you intensify your campaign schedule, you’ve pissed away more than three weeks.

As Steve Miller once said, ‘Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’ into the future. “