Two words help explain why Barack Obama won the presidency in 2008: organization and engagement. Mitt Romney’s team has closely studied Obama’s model in setting up his campaign structure. But the team has failed badly when it comes to inspiring voters, and that shortfall could make the difference if and when Romney faces off against Obama in the fall.

The first lesson Obama’s experience teaches is to organize everywhere, win delegates in remote contests, don’t concede an inch. During the 2008 delegate hunt, Obama scored a bigger net gain in Idaho than Hillary Clinton did in Ohio. This spring, Romney dominated places like Puerto Rico, Guam and even the Northern Marianas.

The second lesson is to pay attention to the rules. Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum failed to make the ballot entirely in Virginia, and Santorum’s crew screwed up in both Ohio and Illinois, preventing him from competing for delegates in several congressional districts. “Vote for Romney — He Knows How to Count” might not be the season’s most inspiring slogan, but it’s a valid claim.