Is it coincidence that three of the four Republican front-runners are not Washington politicians? Is it any wonder that the one front-runner who works on Capitol Hill, John McCain, is struggling to keep up, both in polls and financially? If Republican primary voters are really concerned with the direction of their party, they have the option of choosing "change" without choosing a Democrat.

That, at least, is what Mitt Romney is hoping as he constantly hypes his "change" themes. His latest ad, running in Iowa and New Hampshire, makes Romney out to be the candidate best able to turn around a party that's lost its way, on immigration, ethics and spending: "If we're going to change Washington," Romney intones solemnly, "Republicans have to put our own house in order."

"We can't be like Democrats, the party of big spending," Romney says, in "Change Begins With Us." "When Republicans act like Democrats, America loses."

Red meat for the base while dissing Democrats as much as possible: Two birds, one stone.