[behzinlea]

Oddly enough, although Romney is unacceptable to many core conservatives, he is viewed as relatively nonthreatening to dispirited moderates and soft Democrats who came out to vote for Obama in 2008--and for many of the same reasons. They are more likely to sit at home on their hands this election cycle if the race is between Romney and Obama, and that could help Republicans down ticket in swing districts.

A "scary" Perry, Christie, Bachmann, Gingrich, or Palin candidacy on the other hand, would likely fire up a lot of this dispirited crew to come out and vote--not because they are happy with Obama, but because they feel compelled to register their resistance to the "scary" Republican candidate. That could hurt Republican candidates down ticket.

Romney might be the candidate no one really passionately wants, but who ends up winning for that very reason.

Cain is about the only other viable "non-scary" Republican candidate in the race, but he is unlikely to generate much money from big donors. It might be a smart strategic move for Romney to pick the likeable "non-scary" Cain as his VP.

Again, I will vote with pleasure for WHICHEVER Republican candidate is still standing at the end of the primary road. Anything else would be a vote for Obama, and he infinitely worse than the worst Republican alternative.

[Coldwater Creek]

I’m with you. If Spot the Dog is the Republican nominee, he has my vote.

[MNJohnnie]

Neither Perry nor Romney should be the nominee.

Perry is merely a different face of the same GOP Establishment coin. He is Bush's "compassionate conservative" moderate vrs the liberal wing of the GOP in Romney. It's the 2000 McCain vrs Bush fight all over again.

Perry is Romney lite. Like Bush he is another social conservative/political moderate talking tough to win the GOP primary. He will then go to DC and be a good little Establishment water-boy just like Bush.

The difference between Perry and Romney is which issues they will choose to focus on. Perry will be a staunch social conservative big spending, crony capitalist, Romney will be a social liberal, big spending, big government crony capitalist.

When give the choice of either Romney or Perry, Conservatives should say "neither".

[Tonytitan]

Anything else would be a vote for Obama, and he infinitely worse than the worst Republican alternative.

He is only slightly worse than Romney.