Across the blogosphere many have lamented that even if Mitt Romney wins the Republican nomination, he can not possibly win the general election.  Well, history tells a different story. 

The primaries are about preaching to the choir, especially those who sing a little off key. The general election is about converting the unbelievers (democrats) and fence sitters (independents). No one did this better than Ronald Reagan.

In 1980 Reagan lost only DC, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland Minnesota, Rhode Island and West Virginia. Electoral Outcome: Reagan 489 to 49. What is more amazing is that the Republicans reversed losses from the 1976 race in 15 predominately democrat states including Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio; AND New York, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina and Missouri. FL, MI, PA and OH are all in play not because of many Republican voters, but because these states have comparably large numbers of independent or swing voters. Indeed, that is what makes OH and FL the largest “battleground” states.

Now, Mitt Romney has made great progress getting everyone in the choir singing on the same page. Even more telling is his increasing rise in the polls in states like SC, MO, MI, FL and yes, yes even CA! In almost every case those being polled, after getting to know more about Mitt, respond to his views on defeating the terrorists, competing with Asia, stopping runaway spending, and his support of America's culture and values. When asked why Romney and not another conservative candidate, the answers were again telling. People like Mitt’s stand on strong families, his hard work, and clean living.

No, Mitt will never convince the “Starbucks” crowd in WA and OR, and maybe not CA; certainly not in NY. But in Fly-Over Land people are really fed up with petty, whining democrats and luke warm or less than honest Republicans. This scenario is so close to the 1980 election except for one point: Romney’s poll numbers are better now than Reagan’s were just 8 months before the election.

Sing on Mitt, sing on!