That’s Mark Halperin’s take on Mitt Romney’s approach to 2012, as spelled out in the latest TIME:

Romney’s not blowing away the competition in national polls, but in some key-state surveys he’s ahead. Unlike his approach in 2008, when he tried to capture the early contests and bring a quick end to the competition (and failed), his plan now is to wend his way to victory, downplaying Iowa’s caucuses, dominating New Hampshire and Nevada, surviving South Carolina and then using Florida as a springboard to “inevitable.” His strategy is more war of attrition than knockout punch. He will cast himself as a responsible grownup who knows how to create jobs. But if he wins the nomination — and he remains the oddsmakers’ favorite — he will win it ugly.