Reset: Once the field is set, it will be time to set off in new direction

The much-hyped to-do over Mitt Romney's staff member's Etch-A-Sketch comment is more misdirection and not the smoking gun those looking for gaffes are making it.

Truth is, everyone will reset after the primaries, including the incumbent, as they prepare to address a bigger audience and to answer bigger questions.

That is a natural part of slipping out of the role of appealing to partisans to appealing to the country at-large -- and every candidate in both parties does it.

And those who must decide between them should want them to make that switch.

So, as the nation moves into yet another round of primary votes, perhaps the final ones, there are many who are asking "what comes next?"

Well, there will be a reset, a new focus on a new message that will switch from a candidate who is asking his party if he can run for the job to one who is looking to show the country he not only wants the job, but is prepared to succeed at it.

There will be new kinds of debate and new questions to answer. And, unfortunately, a whole new round of mud-slinging on both sides.

And in the end, hopefully, we will have a president who has been poked, prodded and is now ready for duty.

And that's what really matters.

Published in Editorials on April 2, 2012 11:14 AM