Is Romney following Reagan's path to the presidency?

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We'll look at -- -- fat man standing beside them when without coming to the conclusion that that man got that way by taking advantage of the Finland.

So they're going to solve all the problems of human misery through government and government planning.

Ronald Reagan speaking during the 1964 presidential campaign on behalf of Republican candidate Barry Goldwater.

That speech widely credited with helping to launch the future president to national prominence Reagan.

Years later mr.

Reagan was able to impress the country during the Republican National Convention of 1980.

And that was a race that he eventually won by a wide margin.

Earlier this week Mitt Romney son -- suggested that his father could be on the exact same path to the White House.

Joining us -- to discuss it Michael Reagan chairman of the Reagan group.

Michael welcome back to the program so -- -- comes out says.

Mitt Romney's past the White House is -- carbon copy of your dad's people you know he want your dad won by such a landslide against Carter.

You forget that he was behind considerably.

From most of that race including well into the -- well beyond where we are right now on this race.

-- we got double digits at this point.

In 1980 my father was behind by double digits and was able to win -- you -- by a large margin quick tip for you play that cut from.

Those speech -- time for choosing -- in 1964.

What's changed.

What is changed nothing has changed the Democrats are spilling into the same mantra.

They -- back in the 1960.

To try defeat and did in the 1960s very Goldwater.

Defeat the Republicans that somehow it's the rich -- its business.

That's the problem with the world today we just tax them more have more government -- be able to solve all the problems my father goes on in that speech Megan to say.

You'd think at some point to give -- the score card.

It tells how well all there doing what they never did your scorecard because you wouldn't want to see the score card and now today we're living.

You've seen you know that your dad's you know talking about the fat man -- that they man and doesn't necessarily mean a fat -- take advantage of the thin man to get there.

A similar narrative emerged here at the Republican National Convention last name -- to talk about that with our next panel about this team that there's a war on success.

By the Obama administration the other theme that emerged here Michael was.

That the government is intruding too much and our allies Paul Ryan said -- do we really want to live in a society where everything is free.

But us and listen to -- dad this is while he was president in 1986 on a similar point.

I think you all know that I've always felt the nine most terrifying words in the English language are I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

Are they taking a play out of his -- -- Not I'll -- hot certainly also -- -- tonight has the chance to make the party is part.

And make this election truly about where he wants to take America Mitt Romney tonight needs to define himself as Ronald Reagan did back in 1980.

Need to define himself who he is and -- wants to take United States America.

And how he wants to get there and don't make it difficult force to understand.

Hit two or three points and get those done and -- -- home don't go off into a 59 point plan we don't have time for that I'm not gonna read the book.

Keep it simple stupid and show America that you are human that you're vulnerable what you need to do tonight.

Is prove that your wife we have Romney was correct.

Then you dad when he went into that 1980 convention had been largely defined by Jimmy Carter.

Who had been painted him as -- loony conservative that the country needed to fear.

So your dad gets up there and and -- Krauthammer was saying yesterday about Paul Ryan flunk it then -- two -- coming out of his head.

He was gonna do pretty well because of that caricature that had been painted of him.

Does Mitt Romney have a similar.

Advantage in that way in terms of low expectations.

Well I think -- Rummy that's what I was trying to Mitt Romney needs to define himself tonight show America show the world forty million people are going to be watching.

Tonight show the world who truly is that that -- that and Romney talked about the other night they're terrific speech short step side show us the war.

Being humble tonight.

Make your points drive them home -- be -- and it talked about we don't talk about I.

And and move us forward -- -- I think in that 1980.

Speech that he gave deity of entry for alleged or mentioned Jimmy Carter seven times.

Or jet never mentioned Democrats seven times.

You have to mention Obama so many times did you need to tell people how your gonna take America with their help.

Into the future and make the world -- better place because America is once again going to be successful.

When you're dead became the presumptive nominee.

Gallup had him fourteen points behind Carter -- -- was two points behind President Obama when he become the presumptive became the presumptive I'm nominee.

Your dad was nine points behind Carter at the beginning of the GOP convention he trailed him for much of the fall.

And then he's largely credited his debate performance is largely credited with.

With the victory he ultimately secured because he was so good in those debates especially when that happened right before the election as much attention as we paid -- convention.

It does it doesn't hold a candle.

To the debates in terms of important.

All the debates are so important as your C one pitted against the other.

Rob Portman of course is gonna pick the place of Obama in those debates -- -- Mitt Romney.

He's going to be tough on Mitt Romney.

Because Barack Obama's going to be tough on him on the other side when you look at the vice presidential debate.

Joseph Biden's gonna try and laughed off everything that in fact Paul -- steps.

This debate doesn't need to be about humor with the vice president he -- not be about facts and Paul Ryan needs to take it joint.

And take it to and when he starts to laugh when in fact.

The vice president starts to laughter Paul Ryan there's enough you'll laugh about what's going on the world today we live it it's not funny.

We need to fix it make it right and Ryan and of course Romney -- the people who do.

Last question.

You know your debt with all due respect to governor -- he -- Is it Ronald Reagan he you know he has not been credited with being this sort of orasure of course who is that your dad was.

Debt is his opportunity as great as your father's was.

I think -- opportunity absolutely if I think what when I talk about humanize himself like last night with with Bryant.

The fact that matters when he talked about his grandmother talk about his children talk about the death this father when he was sixteen.

That's what Mitt Romney need to do he didn't need to make himself human.

And and he tells the story to do it countless stories as tight as I said do you before make it well already spoke to -- -- parables not sound bites and tonight.

Mitt Romney needs to speak to listen parables tell -- -- tell -- about great Americans and heroes and how we can get back to that.

That point in our lives and move us forward and if he does that he'll win the night.

He'll win the election and we'll go on to a better world.

You know one other -- other planets I spoke with Rob Portman on the on the floor the conventional the other night asking about.

How he's gonna play President Obama and he's going to be the one sort of needling Mitt Romney these debates.

And I said -- -- give them any head's up you're gonna get the campaign any heads up about where you gonna go and he said absolutely.

Not pots so that'll be an anti -- process.

Let -- out like.

Well they did that route that -- -- to stand up for being successful success builds jobs.

-- UT up our next debate perfectly sir thank you so much for being here Michael Reagan.

Thank you make of.

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Is Romney following Reagan's path to the presidency?

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