Exceptionalism Is Key for Mitt  Salena Zito  4/8/2012 12:01:00
AM - Salena Zito  TUNKHANNOCK, Pa.- Mitt Romney stood in a
closet-sized room just before taking the stage where an old
sawdust mill once sat, the nearby Endless Mountains framing his
silhouette.    The crowd applauded in agreement.        By
embracing American exceptionalism, Romney can reach out and
appeal to traditionalists on terms they understand, terms of
which they are proud.  That would force Obama to defend America
as exceptional, too -- thereby alienating much of his base and
forcing him to address his past serial bowing to foreign leaders
and his blame-America rhetoric -- or to run as the first
president who doesn't think America is exceptional.  To better
connect with traditionalist voters, Romney must stress that he
is a fighter. (He's already demonstrated a take-no-prisoners
instinct against his Republican challengers.)  He absolutely
should not back down from any opportunity to mix it up with
Obama, an icy intellectual who dislikes h