“Superficial notion of winability” refers to the notion of the elusiv “fiscally conservative, socially liberal” candidate who would win over his equally elusive constituency of like-minded voters.
The ones that every pundit says we need to win but for some reason never get found in the electoral snipe hunt.
That “superficial notion” would put up, if not a Romney, then maybe a Pawlenty, Thune or Daniels. All of whom would inspire a tidal wave of ennui.
When I heard that comment I thought only of the candidate who must be conservative in every imaginable area so as to make conservatives happy (I am one) but who is incapable of winning independents.