When Mitt Romney told NAACP conventioneers this week that they would support him for president if they only "understood who I truly am in my heart," it sounded similar to a comment the Republican presidential contender made six months ago.

It was Jan. 9, one day before the New Hampshire primary. Romney was speaking to the Nashua Chamber of Commerce at the Nashua Radisson. After his speech, a woman rose from her seat and told the candidate that Republicans needed "to do a better job of telling our story."

"We need to convince the masses that our vision as conservatives benefits them," the woman told Romney.

Romney agreed.

"This is going to be a battle about describing my heart, my passion to help -- if you will -- the great majority of Americans," Romney said.

If that is indeed the way that Romney views the 2012 election, then he and his campaign lost that battle this week. Romney will have a chance at the party convention in August to introduce himself on a national stage to the country. But from now to then, Democrats hope to bloody him like Republican Bob Dole was in 1996, sending him to the convention as damaged goods.