Did Romney Just Kill His Campaign Before It Began?

I know he was speaking metaphorically, and that he didn't intend it to sound the way it did, but come on. Romney has got to be more careful than this.

Expected Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney tread on socially dangerous ground last night as he talked about the need to "hang" a misery index around the neck of Barack Obama, the nation's first black president.

Here's Romney's statement in full context as to avoid any confusion (emphasis mine):

"You remember during the Ronald Reagan/Jimmy Carter debates? That Ronald Reagan came up with this great thing about the 'misery index,' and that he hung that around Jimmy Carter's neck, and that had a lot to do with Jimmy Carter losing. Well, we're going to have to hang the 'Obama Misery Index' around his neck. And, I'll tell you, the fact that you've got people in this country, really squeezed, with gasoline getting so expensive, with commodities getting so expensive, families are having a hard time making ends meet. So, we're going to have to talk about that, and housing foreclosures and bankruptcies and higher taxation. We're going to hang him — uh, so to speak, metaphorically — with, uh, with, uh — you have to be careful these days, I've learned that, with an Obama Misery Index."

According to the report, the audience reaction was a mix of nervous laughter with applause. ...Applause. There is video out there that cuts off Romney's last few words as he tries to clarify his comments, which is why I'm almost certain this is going to be taken out of context and someone will run with it. But I doubt it will be Andrew Breitbart.

Some helpful advice for Mitt Romney. Don't speak off the cuff and STAY AWAY from "neck hanging" metaphors when running against a black man!