Among Republicans, it is an article of faith that high unemployment and voter disapproval of President Obama's handling of the economy should put Governor Romney in the White House. Unfortunately, Republicans fail to grasp that challengers must offer a compelling alternative to unseat an incumbent. Plus other issues matter more to voters than party leaders care to recognize.

Governor Romney's platform lays out detailed proposals to improve U.S. competitiveness, develop more domestic energy, streamline regulations, and lower health costs, but those are too complex to capture voter attention.

On the stump, it's the usual Republican message-lower taxes, deregulation and free trade. In Ronald Reagan's time, that was a winning strategy, but the country has changed.

African-Americans and Hispanics are a growing share of registered voters, many with strong allegiance to progressive values and critical to the outcome in some swing states. The latter are frightened by many Republicans' views on immigration.