That is shocking. Romney, despite many flaws, seemed to fire up the base so well in the first and second debate, he looked and sounded good. I didn’t expect radically large turnout, but certainly 2004 level turnout for the base. Clearly not. Personally, I have never seem more widespread intensity for an election than people I know on our side, even business acquaintances, where we had serious discussions. Any other cycle was not like that.
I guess the vote depressing of the anti mitt campaign worked.
Romney has to take some of the blame for the lack of turnout for him. He decided early on he could win without support of true conservatives and/or Evangelicals. No Republican has won in my lifetime without the support of both. Evangelicals and/or true conservatives also cannot win without RINOs and some “moderates” so it cuts both ways. That is why starting a third party would be foolish beyond words, but no more foolish than the G.O.P. trying to throw conservatives and Evangelicals under the bus.