The elements of Mitt Romney’s Rocky Mountain rout were hatched weeks ago in Vermont’s Green Mountains. In early September, Romney slowed down his campaign schedule and retreated with a small group of advisers

Romney’s best moments were when he showcased his comfort with his gubernatorial record in Massachusetts, especially on education, and when he spoke about Obama’s failed green-energy initiatives. In a rare one-liner, Romney quipped that the president “picks losers” like Solyndra. Stevens says the “losers” passage was indicative of Romney’s ability to be snappy but not snippy. He’d lead with something sharp and follow with a couple of meaty paragraphs. “They were big, substantive moments that speak to who Mitt Romney really is,” Stevens says.