I have never seen a candidate screw up an easy issue like Romney has screwed up the tax returns.

[Renew Deal]

I've watched plenty of campaigns through the years on all levels. I've never seen anything like this. Romney has been running for president for 6 years. He knew he would have to release his taxes at some point. There's no doubt about it. It had to happen. But apparently he had no plan to deal with it. He could have said no. He could have said "when I get the nomination." He could have released them right away (the correct choice). It's easy. Pick a course of action and stick with it. But it's not easy for Romney apparently.

Now there are stories out there about "what he is hiding." "Is it an exotic tax dodge?" "Is it an IRA gimmick?" "Is there money in some island?" "Is it completely legal?"

This is as big of a preventable self-inflicted wound as you will ever see in politics. He took a 1 day story and turned it into a monster scandal. Unreal!

I think this demonstrates very questionable judgment and should be considered a disqualifier for voters.

[tanyev]

1. Maybe he saw what $arah did with her medical records and thought he

could get by with a signed note from his accountant.

[Happyhippychick]

2. I totally agree! I'm surprised a seasoned politician handled this so poorly, it would have hurt

Either way but hiding information will always be worse.

[kentuck]

3. Perhaps he thought this was an issue that would not be mentioned..?

by any fellow Republican or anyone in the media? Perhaps he was saving his answer for when the Democrat brought it up??

[Renew Deal]

4. He almost got away with it.

If he won SC, the campaign would be likely over. That's not so certain now. Especially with guys like Sununu talking about a "long slog."

[FSogol]

5. He not used to having to do something he doesn't want to do.

Just like he gets upset whenever someone disagrees with him.

At some point in his campaign, he's going to really fly off the handle. I hope the cameras are running when he pops.

[unblock]

6. what it demonstrates is that he knows he's not going to become president.

there's nothing nothing to gain and much to lose in disclosing your taxes if you make romney money, especially if you use privileged loopholes to dodge, shelter, and avoid taxes and then pay only 15% on the rest.

the ONLY upside of disclosing your taxes is in getting the office you're running for. if you end up winning, it was worth it; if you end up losing, it was not.

if rmoney thought he was going to win, or at least had a reasonable shot, he would certainly have released his taxes. his father practically invented tax disclosure as a standard political practice; he knows the drill. if he thought he had a real shot at the white house, he would have handled the issue better.

he's not handling it well because he's thinking, hey, i'm only running for the fun and the exposure and the ego trip, i mean, i know i'm going to lose, but this will be fun and probably great for future business opportunities so what the heck. but no way am i disclosing to people just how much crazy money i make and how little taxes i actually pay. that's bad for business and bad for my image.

[surfdog]

7. I can't really judge the situation just yet

It's possible releasing the tax returns would do more damage than delaying the release of the tax returns

Releasing the tax returns could hand the contest to Newt tomorrow

We just don't know which is more damaging at this point