Yesterday Governor Palin urged Mitt Romney to ‘go rogue’ and end his flaccid “Obama’s-an endearing-guy” act. Forget trying to please the Obama media, she implored, go over their heads, demonstrate some passion, and take the fight directly to the President by leveling with the American people about what four more years of Hopenchange will do to the country. Forget the pale pastels his Boston brain trust is pushing, offer bold colors. Conservatism works every time it’s tried. Today Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker had pretty much the same advice for the Mittster in an interview with Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday. Via the Washington Post:

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) said Sunday he wants to see “more passion” from Mitt Romney and more of the enthusiasm he witnessed when Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) was first tapped by the former governor to be his running mate.

“I want to see fire in the belly,” Walker said of Romney on “Fox News Sunday,” adding that he wants to see the Republican nominee “lit up and ready to go.”

“I think you’ve got to get off the heels and get out and charge forward,” the Wisconsin governor also said.

During a Friday interview with WTMJ radio in Milwaukee, Walker said he was ”enthused” when Romney picked Ryan to be his running mate “because I thought that was a signal that this guy was getting serious, he was getting bold.” But, he added, “I just haven’t seen that kind of passion I know that Paul has transferred over to our nominee.”

Good advice, whether it comes from Scott Walker, Governor Palin, or anyone else. Conservatism works every time it’s tried: fight for it, explain it, promote it passionately and vigorously. Do something, becuase what you’re doing ain’t working. But sadly, as I noted yesterday, Romney thinks his campaign is just fine as is. It’s difficult to convince someone to make a change when they aren’t aware one is needed.

In my state of Ohio, a new poll was released today confirming what most Ohio polls have been showing for some time: the state is slipping away from Mitt Romney. Why is this important? Maybe because no Republican has won the presidency without carrying Ohio since Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1860. I understand that there are those Pollyannas (many undoubtedly are in Mitt’s campaign hierarchy) who keep insisting that every poll showing Romney down is rigged and, therefore, nothing more than pro-Obama propaganda which we should ignore. Or something. Maybe some are, but they can’t all be flawed.

Note to Team Mitt: if serious and dramatic changes along the lines suggested by Governors Palin and Walker aren’t instituted immediately, you’re going to lose. I understand Romney ”is not fluent in conservative ideas” (not having called himself a conservative until his 60s) and, as such, is uncomfortable talking about them. But with the election only 44 days away, wouldn’t this be a good time to study up? As Steve noted in a post today, for Obama to lose, Romney has to win. Running out the clock when you’re behind is no way to accomplish that. Maybe Mitt and his highly-paid army of beltway advisors and consultants should take that into consideration.

Update: In the comments, C4P reader “daisy_mae” has some advice for Mitt Romney:

Team Romney/Ryan, if you’re reading this, coaches show videos to help get their teams get fired up.  In this instance, I suggest Team R&R watch Governor Palin’s speech in Wisconsin with the union thugs in the background heckling her the whole time.  Her speech in Iowa is FIERCE.  There are many speeches and interviews with Governor Palin where you can witness the meaning of having “fire in the belly.”

Great idea, daisy_mae. If Team Mitt wants to inject some passion into their floundering campaign, they could do a lot worse than watching this: