Not real big on Romney, but he IS a damn sight better then crazy McCain or RINO rudy.
Romney is not my first choice (or even my 3rd or 4th choice at the moment) but I must admit after seeing him in the debates I'd have no problem voting for him in the general election. He's a little too slick (and not completely truthworthy at this point), but he's a hell of a campaigner and speaker, and would have big gravitas in a one-on-one matchup with a Dem.
He does seem far more "electable" in swing states than Fred Thompson. Fred has a good straight-shooter, tough-guy image and celebrity credentials, but Romney seems to have the common touch to win over swing votes better. In a hypothetical matchup, Fred is currently down by 14% nationally to a political notice whose name sounds like Osama, and that is not a good sign for things to come.
I'm guessing Fred Thompson's overall record in office is more conservative than Romney's, though it doesn't help that his supporters seem to have no problem with Fred's views "growing" since 1994 (abortion, amnesty, McCain-Feingold, etc.) but crusify Romney for doing the same. At least Romney has the excuse that he had to sound liberal to get elected in a communist state.
Right now I'd probably go with Fred as the better general election nominee, but with every day Fred continues to sit on the sidelines I think Romney looks better and better.
TOMMY Thompson, Duncan Hunter, Tom Tancredo, and Mike Huckabee remain THE BEST choices, but let's face it, none of them are likely to win the nomination. I hope that changes. We'll see.