Sounds like the author has a man-crush. In all seriousness, though, looking the part doesn't necessarily mean you can fill the role. Romney, Boehner, and Feingold are good examples. They have the perfect hair, manicured nails, authoritative voice, and year-round tan.....yet they all failed to deliver when it mattered most.
Give me substance, not style.
It actually sounds like Robert actually was disappointed that Mitt is starting to show well against Obambi.
After all, he wasn’t saying Mitt was a good candidate. Just that there’s a perception he is because he looks like he fits the bill. He’s worse than x for this reason and y for this reason, and to call him an empty suit is an insult to suits, but hey, the Republicans are racists, so they’re going to pick Mitt because he looks more like a President than O.
All in all, it’s a nasty, vile argument from a nasty, vile little man.