I personally think Romney will begin to shine if he makes if far enough where he’s part of a limited cast. He’s very sharp speaking im promptu. He’s one of the few candidates out there who can inspire. See his performance at CPAC, for instance, or the videos of him speaking on particular issues on his website.
He has a very business-oriented method of approaching problems that I find refreshing. When you compare the prospect of having Romney and Thompson on stage as compared to past elections with Bush and Gore or Kerry, you’ve got something to look forward to.
I’m from Massachusetts, and while he talks well, I’m not sure if he’s got the stuff. I’ve seen Romney in action, and while I have good feelings about him personally (I know one of his staff), I don’t have a lot of enthusiasm for him politically. Yet.