Trump endorsement reinforces Romney's out-of-touch douchebag image

By Michael J.W. Stickings

Via twitter:

Will Trump help Romney? http://t.co/1dQ8VIYQ

-- George Stephanopoulos (@GStephanopoulos)

It seems obvious, but... No.

Trump's endorsement reinforces Romney's well-deserved reputation as a privileged rich douchebag with a plutocratic sense of personal entitlement. This is the narrative that is coming to define Romney and that will haunt him during the campaign.

Once upon a time, Trump may have helped with independents, but he's been exposed as a laughingstock -- or, rather, even more of one -- with his baseless Birtherism and various other inane political ramblings. He's an egomaniacal bully, more Newt than Mitt, but now it's Romney who must shoulder the burden of his support at a time when the race is just about over and he needs badly to shift gears for the general election.

(I would add: If Trump really likes Romney, why not endorse when a high-profile endorsement would matter more, like before South Carolina or Florida? The timing is nothing if not curious. It's like he only wanted to back a sure thing.)