Never underestimate your opponent. The guy everyone in the media was sure was “stiff, boring, and unlikeable” just pulled off the upset of the year…of the decade…maybe of the century. Mitt Romney used his experience at staging the Olympics to upstage and out-shine Barack Obama Thursday night in Tampa. To put it bluntly, he pulled off the impossible: Mitt out Obama-ed Obama!

How did Mitt do it? With stories. Mitt learned the most important lesson running the 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah. The lesson is that Olympics aren’t about sports. They are about hundreds of compelling stories -- each of them bringing tears to your eyes. Each of them is really about God, faith, family and country.

The same lesson applies to politics. It isn’t about policies. It’s about riveting and compelling stories that connect with the American people. And Mitt learned well enough to earn a gold medal on Thursday night.

Mitt "out Obama-ed Obama" with a diversity no GOP convention has ever seen. A diversity that, to be honest let me flabbergasted.

As a political pundit and observer of politics for decades, I’ve never seen such an array of star power, let alone this kind of diversity of star power at a GOP event.

We watched a never ending array of storytellers. Fomer Secretary of State Condi Rice, Governor Susanna Martinez, Senator Marco Rubio, Mayor Mia Love, Governor Nikki Haley, Senator Kelly Ayotte, Olympic heroes, Mitt’s friends, neighbors and churchgoers…and then the real Exhibit A definition of star power, Clint Eastwood talking to an empty chair (and an empty suit named Obama). And one story was better than the next.

Mitt "out Obama-ed Obama" by showcasing testimonials to his life as a clergyman -- who knew? We heard testimony to his love and respect for fellow church members -- who knew? We heard testimony to his willingness to help heal the sick, honor the dying, and give eulogies for the dead -- who knew?

In one masterful convention and one miraculous night, Mitt transformed from “evil, greedy Wall Street titan”…to America’s favorite husband, father, and…minister? That’s one heck of a transformation.

The man Obama has painted as evil and greedy turns out to be not just a CEO, business dynamo, and hero that saved the Olympics, but a man of God.

We learned that a $250,000,000 business superstar donated his valuable time to visit sick people in the hospital…to babysit children whose parents were in the hospital…halted his entire business and re-located it to New York to locate a missing daughter of a partner…and honored his wife by telling her that her job as a mother was more difficult and more important than his job as the breadwinner. My head was spinning, my eyes were tearing. -- And I’m a cynical political pundit who thought he’d heard it all.

The turnaround specialist turned-around his image 180 degrees on Thursday night. There were few dry eyes in the house. You may not agree with all of Mitt's political views, but you've got to now respect the man.

Mitt took a GOP convention and turned it into the 2012 Olympics. He didn’t bore people with scary, stodgy politicians denigrating Obama, or citing facts and figures that make people’s eyes glaze over. He wowed America with stories of God, faith, family, child births, business beginnings, 100,000 balloons, 500 pounds of confetti, one superstar Hollywood legend, and the singing of “America the Beautiful.”

Mitt didn’t even need fake Roman columns to pull it off. He just used stories. Great American stories from a rainbow of political stars. GOP politician after politician walked to that podium with stories of their grandfathers and grandmothers, parents, kids, business comebacks, their faith in God, and their love of America. This was a religious revival crossed with the Olympics. And it worked.

Who was watching? Everyone. I mean the whole country. I live in Las Vegas. Not exactly a politically obsessed town. I put the GOP Convention on TiVo and went to an early dinner with my kids to our favorite Chinese restaurant. It’s a huge place seating about 150 diners. I walked in the door and my mouth dropped open. We were the only ones in the place at 6:30pm. It was a ghost town. On a busy Thursday night. In Las Vegas. It was like Christmas Eve, or Easter eve, or a Super Bowl. We were the only table occupied in a restaurant of 150, for an hour. Sure, it's anecdotal but I swear this is a sign that all of America was glued to their TV sets to hear if Romney is the guy to save this beloved country and this frightening, failing US economy.

The reaction from Middle America? Hundreds of my friends and fans --most are small business owners or entrepreneurs -- texted or emailed me during Romney’s speech. They all said the same thing: “Homerun.” Well, a few said: “Grand Slam homerun.” And more than a few said “Wayne you predicted a Romney landslide defeat over 3 months ago -- your prediction just came true tonight in front of our eyes.”

But most importantly was the reaction of my Midwest friends. This election will be decided in the Heartland of America. My Midwest friends -- to a man --admitted to having tears in their eyes. They were blown away. The greedy, rich, Wall Street titan image is gone. Erased in one magical night. In the Midwest they now feel that Romney is one of them. A good man. A humble man. A spiritual man. A patriot. A problem solver.

The Mitt Romney homerun lines according to a large cross section of my friends and fans:

* “We celebrate success in America. We don’t apologize for success.”
* “When the world needs to do really good stuff, you need an American.”
* “There’s something wrong with the kind of job he’s done as President when the best feeling you had, was the day you voted for him.”
* “Obama promised to slow the rise of the oceans and heal the planet. My promise: TO HELP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.”

And Marco Rubio’s show-stopping lines must get honorable mention:

* “It’s not that Obama is a bad person…it’s that he’s a bad President.”
* “Power belongs to the people.”
* "Obama is trying ideas that people came to America to get away from."
* “Almighty God is the source of all we have.”
* ”Faith in our Creator is the most important American value of them all.”

This was an Olympic quality event. Romney earned a gold medal. Rubio got the silver. Clint Eastwood got the bronze. The staging was exquisite. The stories were riveting and compelling. And Romney became not just human, but super human in front of America’s voters.

Next up...that landslide I predicted.

Wayne Allyn Root is a capitalist evangelist and serial entrepreneur. He is a former Libertarian vice presidential nominee. He now serves as chairman of the Libertarian National Campaign Committee. He is the best-selling author of "The Conscience of a Libertarian: Empowering the Citizen Revolution with God, Guns, Gold & Tax Cuts." For more, visit his website: www.ROOTforAmerica.com.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/08/31/gold-medal-for-romney-in-tampa/#ixzz25Cl6hZNb

Excellent and accurate article, I especially liked this part.....

We learned that a $250,000,000 business superstar donated his valuable time to visit sick people in the hospital…to babysit children whose parents were in the hospital…halted his entire business and re-located it to New York to locate a missing daughter of a partner…and honored his wife by telling her that her job as a mother was more difficult and more important than his job as the breadwinner. My head was spinning, my eyes were tearing. -- And I’m a cynical political pundit who thought he’d heard it all.

How misguided and closed minded one has to be to think that a potential POTUS who uses Hitler totalitarian tactics to control his political party, changes long standing rules in the middle of the game, and ends the democratic voting process of that party, allowing a chosen few to decide "who represents the party", and not the vote of the people.... will do anything to "fix" America, or return power to the people....

How absurd! He's Obozo on steroids!

But that's what Faux sells the public.....control and lies!

Heaven forbid anyone have a an ounce of independent thought, choice or a brain to process it with....that doesn't increase profit shares or sell commercial space!

Ben Swann brings a bit of it to light....the rest will come out shortly.... to be sure!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKaXqoC4DjE&feature=youtu.be

Some would perfer to read or get the real news.... about how the RNC just killed it's party by letting a corrupt lawyer write the rules... how people, whole states of voters, have risen in protest and threaten to now leave the party all together.

Yeah, that's some great job, and should be a warning of what this idiot (and his puppet masters) is willing to do to gain the power of the highest office in the land.....and control/rule with an iron fist more sggressive than Obozos!

Robme/Ryan is WW3 and a police state....without a single doubt!

It is in the air that Hussein is going to start cutting vets out of VA medical.

I thought the RNC was done very well. Some of the speeches were boring and I turned away but the big speeches were done well and gave a dramatic contrast to the Obama/Democratic line of BS.

I think one of the main problems with the US is that the political system has been fine tuned to give only two choices and two choices only. People like me that have more Libertarian values, detest big government and cronyism don't get much of a choice.

You hear the song over and over, "Meet the new boss ... same as the old boss ..."

I think the direction the Democratic party is going is both socialistic and communistic, doomed to failure, and largely the opposite of what they claim.

If the Republicans would actually do what they claim, they would be a much better choice. But the reality is that it took both parties to get us in much of the debt problems we face (although the Democrats are now in a feeding frenzy).

I hope women, the undecided, Independents (like me), and the young watched the RNC. The contrast is overwhelming.

I think if the Republicans didn't fight so strongly for tax breaks for the rich, insist on making abortion a national issue (I think it should be a State issue), and would actually address the illegal immigration issue as opposed to hiding from it (I am pro legal immigration and anti illegal immigration), they would win easily.

Probably talking to myself again but I think the "stark" contrast between the RNC and the DNC is a glaring depiction of what is currently wrong in America...The RNC focus is on the economy, jobs, and the failures of current administration....The DNC focus is on gay marriage, satisfying islamic demands, abortion, and bashing capitalism as a response to our economic woes...In other words, social issues and BIG government...Social issues can wait and big government is the root problem....

I was perplexed by Romney's speech at the convention. I know that he wanted to show his "softer sides" and come across as a caring and compassionate and authentic person...I'm all for men showing their "softer sides." (Versus being "rough" and "tough" and "macho" all the time.)...But Romney's speech left me wondering who he really is. (All over again.)...Romney has been accused of being a chameleon and "flip-flopper" at times. It has been hard to really "figure him out."...Who will he "be" and how will he "act" in his next speech? And in his following speeches?...I'm sure Romney wanted to show his "softer sides" to appeal to women voters. And he got some "ooh's" and "ah's." But the reality is that most women voters want some "meat" on the "bone" right now..."Spell-out" what you plan to do for us in detail and depth! And stop all the silly pandering and "mushy talk!"

I totally agree with you Greeneyes, don't try to soft soap us Romney....I'm sure many women have learned how to decipher truth from BS...If not, all they have to do is revisit Obama's '08 campaign!

Uhhh, if women have learned how to decipher truth from BS, why are the majority of women pro Obama?

Uhhh, maybe they are not so much pro Obama as they are anti Romney....

I agree but I don't think it's the BS factor. I think it is mostly the abortion stance of the Republican Party.

Abortion, equal pay for same job/skill/work. planned parenthood, healthcare...Women are tired of second class treatment Joe..It's hard to relate to this if you are not a woman.... ..

I agree with you...Normally I'm a pretty skeptical person. But I sure got "fooled" back in 2008! Obama should win an academy award for his "super salesman" performance back then!...But now what? Hard to trust anyone anymore!

I agree with you...Normally I'm a pretty skeptical person. But I sure got "fooled" back in 2008! Obama should win an academy award for his "super salesman" performance back then!...But now what? Hard to trust anyone anymore!

It is very hard to trust....What I try to remember is this, politicians had a lot of help getting America so far off track...A lot of "willing" participants...I do this because I think it is vital to stand behind my country and because I refuse to lose hope...As an independent, I did not vote for Obama, I did, however, throw my vote away because I didn't vote for McCain either...It's something I regret.....In my mind, this election is major, a true turning point or deciding factor in determining America's future...Obama had his chance...He failed miserably...Romney is my only choice, he will get my vote...I refuse to let his lack of support for women's issues cloud my thinking....I've waited 63 years for women's equality, a few more won't kill me....

I'm 63 too....I still have trouble trusting Romney...Or Obama! Nobody has my vote yet.

Most of my female friends have been disappointed with Obama's performance. But I'm sure they will probably vote for him again anyway...They don't view Romney or the GOP platform as a decent alternative. They fear having so many "cuts" during a bad economy. A few have kids or grandkids who are low-level federal employees or teachers etc...They "get it" that "cuts" can lead to mass layoffs during a time when decent paying jobs are hard to find.

I'm sure you are right. You usually are. However, I am trying to see the woman's perspective as "what is good for America, is good for women too!" I don't think Obama is good for America. And I don't agree (as I have mentioned before) with all the positions the Republicans take.