Polls: GOP Primary Reveals Mitt Romney as a Jerk

Mitt Romney has spent years cultivating a persona of bland inoffensiveness, like he's humanity's answer to corn flakes. Or corn flakes' answer to some sort of paste that, while flavorless, you could probably still survive on if you needed to.

But that reputation may be permanently damaged by his relentless desire to lead the free world…

The monthlong feud with Newt Gingrich has identified clear vulnerabilities for Mr. Romney on issues like his wealth, his work for Bain Capital, a private equity firm, the taxes he pays and his positions on immigration, Medicare and health care.

It also has cost Mr. Romney — at least for now — the generally likable image that he has nurtured for years. In polls during the last several weeks, the number of people who view him favorably has plunged, especially among independent voters who will likely decide the general election later this year.

Damn that Gingrich — this is all his fault! Poor Romney never did anything to make himself seem unfavorable or out-of-touch. Like suggest that $370,000 was "not very much" money.

Or say that corporations are people.

Or try to have a sense of humor.

Newt Gingrich must pay for this.

Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Tags: Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Polls, Primaries, Republicans