The state of the race: what could possibly go wrong in Tampa?

Oliver Burkeman wrote a hilarious article titled The Republican National Convention: What could possibly go wrong? When I first read it, I figured he'd pretty much covered all the bases ;-)

Even though it hasn't officially started yet, it looks like his numero uno "wrong" has already happened.

The hurricane scenario: will Hurricane Isaac, most recently reported as a tropical storm gathering strength in the Caribbean, wreak havoc in Tampa?...Hurricanes, Michele Bachmann and Pat Robertson agree, are generally signs of heavenly anger at profligate government spending, or feminists. So what will it mean if God smites Tampa? 

Kinda makes you wonder just what God's message is in wanting one less day of the Republican Convention, doesn't it?

OK, maybe not. Maybe its just a sign that planning a convention in Florida during hurricane season is not the greatest idea.

But Burkman missed some other headwinds that are blowing in Florida. By now you've probably heard that former Florida Republican Governor Charlie Crist endorsed President Obama today. He becomes perhaps the most recognizable former Republican to go public with his exodus from the party.

As Republicans gather in Tampa to nominate Mitt Romney, Americans can expect to hear tales of how President Obama has failed to work with their party or turn the economy around.

But an element of their party has pitched so far to the extreme right on issues important to women, immigrants, seniors and students that they've proven incapable of governing for the people.

Ouch...that one hurt! And moreso because it comes from the guy Public Policy Polling recently found would beat current Republican Governor Rick Scott in a head-to-head match-up.

Crist benefits from voters’ deep dissatisfaction with Governor Rick Scott in order to lead his successor in a potential 2014 matchup 44% to 41%.

And then there is the take-down of Romney by The Economist.

All politicians flip-flop from time to time; but Mr Romney could win an Olympic medal in it. And that is a pity, because this newspaper finds much to like in the history of this uncharismatic but dogged man...

But competence is worthless without direction and, frankly, character. Would that Candidate Romney had indeed presented himself as a solid chief executive who got things done. Instead he has appeared as a fawning PR man, apparently willing to do or say just about anything to get elected. In some areas, notably social policy and foreign affairs, the result is that he is now committed to needlessly extreme or dangerous courses that he may not actually believe in but will find hard to drop; in others, especially to do with the economy, the lack of details means that some attractive-sounding headline policies prove meaningless (and possibly dangerous) on closer inspection. Behind all this sits the worrying idea of a man who does not really know his own mind. America won’t vote for that man; nor would this newspaper.

To check on the political leanings of The Economist, I looked into their endorsements from previous presidential elections. Its a mixed bag.  In terms of Republicans, they endorsed Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole, and George W. Bush (against Al Gore). On the other hand, they endorsed Bill Clinton (against H.W. Bush), John Kerry and Barack Obama in 2008. You get the very real sense from reading this editorial that they REALLY wanted to endorse Romney - but he's blowing it. We can thank the tea partiers and Romney's lack of character for that.

Meanwhile, the Obama campaign is having a little fun with it all.