Regular readers of John Hood’s Daily Journal already know that Hood believes Mitt Romney will represent the Republican Party in next year’s presidential contest.

Mark Halperin of TIME reports “widespread bipartisan concurrence among the political class” that this is the most likely result.

Halperin offers some interesting observations about the way the campaign might unfold:

Would Romney go personal against Obama?

Just the opposite. What is most potent about Romney’s campaign so far is its cleverly dispassionate anti-Obama formula, which goes something like this: “The President is a nice man with a nice family. He didn’t cause the economic mess, but his actions have made things worse. He’s clearly in over his head.” That message worries many senior Democrats, who now believe Romney has made the tactical decision to take the high road and leave the gutter attacks to the incumbent. Says Romney strategist Stuart Stevens, staying softer-edged than Plouffe: “This is the same Obama campaign that savaged Hillary Clinton [and] ridiculed President Clinton [in 2008]. It must be difficult to think you have elected the next FDR and instead find yourself working for Herbert Hoover.”