Just as picking McCain in 2008 took Shamnesty off the table as an election issue.
This is a pointless exercise (polling) because the landscape will shift at least one more time after the Nov 2010 elections. IF the GOP were to pick up the house, then Obama can start running against the GOP leadership for 2 years.
It would almost be better for the GOP to get within one seat of taking the house, so Pelosi is on the hotseat for 2 more years.
However, the general theme remains the same. Romney could pull a McCain if Palin and Huckabee go for the right. A scenario I could see happening is Palin taking a higher portion of the vote than Huckabee, but Hucakbee taking enough to give the election to Romney, then Palin offers the VP spot to Huckabee if he gets out. Two former governors of States running as outsiders and against the Federal Govt.
Then again, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Rick Perry throw his hat in the game too. Whether he could get any traction is another story.
I also am still not eliminating the possibility that Palin, if she ran, might run as an independent if Romney is the nominee. Try to pull a Jesse Ventura/Perot with Obama far left, Romney center and Palin trying to get 36% on the Right. She has the name recognition to do it, but she would have to really get rolling soon to have the infrastructure to get on the ballots. It is a longshot, but if there ever was a time it could work, 2012 is it IMO.