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One of the nuggets overshadowed by the 47 percent dis in the secret Mitt Romney fund-raiser video had the candidate telling his wealthy donors how he picked his television appearances, and why he shunned the likes of SNL and Letterman. The View was “high risk,” he said, because “of the five women on it, only one is conservative, and four are sharp-tongued and not conservative. Whoopi Goldberg in particular.” To make amends, the Romney campaign said both Mitt and Ann would come on the show in October, and a summit was planned for this Thursday. But as Barbara Walters announced on today’s program, the appearance has been canceled, and Ann will have to do.

“We were looking forward to it,” explained Walters. “Over the weekend, his people said that he had scheduling problems and would not be coming on with us. Nor at this point did he feel that he could reschedule.” She added, “He can change his mind and we hope he does. It would be our pleasure to have him on the program.” (“It was no longer going to work in the campaign schedule but Mrs. Romney is very excited to join the ladies of The View,” a Romney spokesperson confirmed.)

“If you can’t handle four sharp-tongued women, how are you going to handle the country?” asked co-host Sherri Shepherd when Romney’s candid remarks leaked. She was soothed at the time by the show’s token conservative Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who promised the Romneys would stop by at some point this month, but apparently her diplomatic skills lack follow-through.

Perhaps the Romney campaign has been heartened by polls showing the candidate gaining with women after months of large gaps. And yet, for now, Shepherd’s question stands.