[x]

If I read this right, Ann doesn't support Santorum because, although he has conservative positions, he doesn't know how to articulate them but is willing to support Romney, who has no conservative positions to articulate. Is that about right, or is there some other angle I'm missing?

You're assuming Romney's past means he "has no conservative positions." Ann doesn't agree. Rightly or wrongly, she's ignoring that past and concentrating on what he says now, which, rightly or wrongly, she finds conservative enough for her.

She's assuming Romney will articulate those positions better than Santorum and won't crack up. She may be wrong about that too, where Romney is concerned, but so far it looks like she's right about Santorum. You could say that Ann sees Santorum's gaffes, but doesn't see Romney's, but everyone's point of view involves blindspots of one sort or another.

[skeeter]

I disagree with her on Santorum - he makes no more gaffes than our other candidates.

He isn't the speaker Gingrich is, but on equal terms he's very much Romney's match.