Romney is better than Rudy, and probably even better than Huckabee. Romney is not the worse.
Romney is the best blend of several essentials: he is a conservative-based candidate, telegenic, handsome with a great TV/media presence, and with great financial support.
And I believe he will keep his promises to govern from the right, because THAT will be where his power and authority comes from. The left would never help a Romney administration succeed.
I also believe that any reluctance to Romney on the part of southern conservative states or hard right conservatives in general will be forgotten and smoothed over as the ‘08 campaign gets into gear.
Guiliani would split the GOP in half, and Thompson would put the GOP to sleep..(sorry Fred, I love ya, but that’s the way things shape up)
McCain is unstable, anti-GOP and too old, despite his recent efforts at trying to get along with fellow Republicans.
Mitt stands the best chance of bringing it all together.