Perhaps. But he does a better job handling the media and can more quickly make a policy argument than anyone up there. He runs circles around Cain, Bachmann, and Perry. No one can stand next to him and argue on policy matters with the exception of perhaps Romney. I think Republicans are yearning for someone who can actually stand up and leave them confident he can deliver the party platform without falling over himself.
He is very vulnerable with his past deals with the devil in both dealings with Democrats and in personal dealings. His biggest achilles heal? Pride. That biggest of sins.
His weight will also be a negative against him, especially against a trim Obama.
A RINO? Perhaps. He’s made some of those moves. He’s also made moves that were very conservative. We shall see.