Regarding the question that Kathryn’s e-mailer asked, “Does anyone believe Romney can win in November?” I do. I think either Romney or McCain can beat Hillary. (In Romney’s favor, briefly–I think he’ll wear well because he’s basically a decent guy without hard edges, and he’ll be able to draw contrasts with Hillary on immigration and taxes that McCain won’t.) I’m beginning to have my doubts whether either of them, however, could beat Obama.

UPDATE

E-mail:

I agree with you about either McCain or Romney having the ability to beat Hillary. And while beating Obama would certainly be a formidable task, I wonder if McCain would be better positioned to pick up Hillary supporters who would be bitter (even vindictive? We are talking about Clintons here) about the Obama victory. I would think this may be the case especially with respect to Hispanic voters, whom everyone tells us will not vote for an African-American president. Are there any viable Hispanic Republican VP choices for either of the frontrunners?

E-mail:

Hi Rich,
I share your concern about the Republican candidate’s ability to beat Obama, whomever the nominee should turn out to be. However, I am much more worried about McCain on that count than I am about Romney. I fear that a McCain – Obama match up would turn into a contest of images: old vs. young, cranky vs. cheerful, “realist” vs. optimist. Romney, on the other hand, would cede nothing to Obama in any of these areas. In addition Romney would be able to draw powerful contrasts between his extensive experience and Obama’s thin resume.

E-mail:

Rich,
Your post stating that Romney will do well in November because he wears ”well because he’s basically a decent guy without hard edge” brought a smile on my face. Thanks, I needed that this morning. I am a Rudy supporter. Romney is a phony. Romney has gone through as many reinventions as pop star Madonna. It is unfortunate that other candidates have drunk the “no negative” campaigning cool aid. The weak record as governor of Massachusetts should have been exposed a month ago. The fact that his epiphanies on abortion, guns, gays, embryonic stem cell research occurred around the time he decided to run for POTUS should have been pointed out a long time ago. McCain has started to make the case against Romney…

E-mail:

Hi Rich,
I am the one who emailed Kathryn with my comments rebutting the guy who was angry about NRO bashing McCain.
In my haste, I failed to make the point that you just did, that Romney losing in November is far from a foregone conclusion.
I am not sure if I understand Ramesh’s posted comment about waterboarding not being in the book Keeping the Tablets: Modern American Conservative Thought. I believe a majority of conservatives feel the same about waterboarding…and that feeling is opposite of John McCain’s position….
Also, I would bet there are many topics that hit the Corner on a daily basis, on which most conservatives agree, that are not mentioned in Keeping the Tablets: Modern American Conservative Thought.

E-mail:

In response to the guy who wrote you saying he thinks Romney would do better against Obama than McCain, I have to disagree. The only question you have to ask is: why would anyone who’s not a conservative Republican vote for Romney? Obama has already demonstrated he can draw independents and even a few Republicans (god knows why); McCain is loved by independents and Democrats. An Obama-McCain matchup would give independents pause and a serious choice; an Obama-Romney matchup would result in the vast majority of people flocking to the “inspirational” articulate black man, and only the staunchly ideological conservatives, of which there are sadly too few, going to Romney who, frankly, has shown he just doesn’t connect with people very well.
As an aside, I’m a Rudy supporter, and needless to say, it looks like my guy isn’t going to make it, which leaves me with a dilemma in regards to McCain and Romney. I think Romney would be a better president, but I just really cannot see him winning in November, and though I’m not particularly fond of McCain, he’s better than Hillary or Obama. This is the first presidential election I can vote in, btw; I suppose it’s best to start with the cynicism early.