Although there are journalistic outliers, the media tends to coalesce behind a dominant narrative, and selectively draws on campaigns to buttress the conventional viewpoint. The process is driven by several factors: the rather uniform ideological predisposition of the mainstream press, the dominant norms of journalistic coverage based primarily on uniform ideas regarding what is “newsworthy” in a bottom-line profit-driven profession, and the fact that journalists spend most of their time talking to other journalists. This creates both positive reinforcement for the dominant narrative and a tendency to react to new events and issues in a uniform way. I’m less sanguine than are others regarding the ability of campaigns to reframe the narrative in ways that serve their interests, unless that frame is consistent with the overarching media take on events.

It is weird that Bachmann’s mistakes were glossed over because she was one of the “winners.” And Herman Cain, darling of the first debate, has already been forgotten.

Also, Bachmann took both positions on the “Elvis vs. Johnny Cash” question, when we all know the right answer is Cash.

The problem is getting him through the Republican nominating process. His opponents will charge he’s a foreign policy candidate in a domestic policy year – he spent the year overseas when the economy was tanking back home. To compensate, he’ll have to sell voters on the idea that he can use his China connection to deal with the trade imbalance, currency issues, etc. that dominate the U.S.-China economic relationship.