Romney, a Challenger at the Crossroads

At a time when the presidential election is so eminent, many of the main New York Times articles revolve around this topic.  During past election years, I never made an effort to gain a deep understanding of the candidates and their platforms.  However, this year the national topic caught my attention.  Therefore, I read a political article this week, which is based on Romney's life and his potential transition from Governor to President.  The article begins with a personal account of Romney's daily habits, establishing the author's evident credibility, while also developing a foundation of pathos. The author establishes his credibility with specific facts demonstrated when he writes, "He wakes up around 5 a.m. for a workout and a conference call with his senior staff members, as he has all year, but he is adjusting to one of the new burdens of a would-be president..."  Not only does the author state specific facts, but he also introduces the idea of his transformation into president.  This sentence, appearing in the beginning of the article, forms a foundation for the rest of the article.  An abrupt transition occurs when the author diverges from the common paragraph style of writing, and writes one simple sentence standing on its own. This simple sentence makes the shift in topic very clear.  At this point, the article begins to describe the realistic possibility that Romney may win the election. This possibility is supported by quotes from Romney and his coworkers, as well as details of his political background and platform.  The article closes with a return to an emphasis on logos and pathos.  The author uses the same tactic of including details on Romney's daily life to provide a personal feeling, while also developing a wide range of information.  Overall, I though the article was an effective way of presenting Romney's current position, while also describing his future potential. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/05/us/politics/romney-a-challenger-at-the-crossroads.html?pagewanted=2&hp