The Obama team smiles as the Republicans brawl.  If the Fox News poll of likely voters in swing states is accurate, the Republicans are in trouble, and the scorched-earth campaign tactics of the candidates and their super packs are likely major contributors.

The Romney apparatus has unleashed the dogs with ads labeling Santorum as a big spending, Washington insider.  Santorum ads picture Romney as a machine gun toting mudslinger. Gingrich is keeping a low profile, hoping for a chance to emerge from the carnage.

The 11th Commandment (Thou shalt not attack a fellow Republican) has never been honored. The Goldwater/Rockefeller, Reagan/Ford, McCain/Romney battles were not always polite.  But the animus and 24-hour high-tech visibility of this long campaign are distinctive.   An uninformed, independent observer could easily decide that none of the Republican candidates deserves to be President.

Could this have been prevented? If Governor Romney supporters had not carpet-bombed Speaker Gingrich in Iowa, would Newt have resisted attacking the Governor’s Bain experience?   If campaign finance laws had not forced the  super pac / campaign separation, would Governor Romney have kept his message on a higher plane?

This is the most important election since 1980. The Republican nominee may be able to overcome the damage once the nomination is settled.  If not, the candidates’ trash-and-burn strategies will be just as important as any improvement in the economy in explaining an Obama reelection.