That says more about the voting public than FReepers.
And, FReepers like myself who talk about Newt, are speaking of using his strategy and methods rather than Newt himself.
Cruz/Palin 2016
Romney made a lot of mistakes for sure, but at this point I think Newt would have been entirely destroyed much earlier than Romney. He could be a great debator (but he got quiet just before he tanked at the end much like Romney after Candy). Frankly, the man had baggage way worse than Romney, they would have attacked him mercilessly, I don't think he would have won, rather he would have lost in an even worse way, a debacle conservatism could not have handled.