WHO was your pick?
Gingrich had the history of Contract with America and the Republican sweep, but he had a lot of other baggage with the serial adultery and cozy moments with Pelosi on their eco-couch. I figured it would be harder to elect him than some of the others.
I wasn't overly excited about Perry and his passionate conservatism towards illegals, but as time went on and I conducted more research it appeared some of the things in TX were done in compliance with fed law...ie dealing with a problem already in existence. Hell why not let illegals have the in-state tuition rate? I'd rather they were in college getting a degree to hopefully contribute to society rather than sitting on their @asses for terminal seista collecting welfare.
Cain appeared to need work on foreign policy. However, both Cain and Perry appeared to have similar values to me. I wasn't looking for the perfect candidate but was willing for the Reagan 75% solution.
I was previously familiar with Myth before and "etch-a-sketch" and flip flop were adequate descriptions of him.....and of course say whatever I think people want to hear whether I believe it or not. It seemed this became more and more apparent throughout the primary.
Later on, I was more and more solidly on Perry's side. In the end I favored Newt over Romney. I could not find anything other than 'down with 0bamacare' to agree with him on. I didn't trust what he said about illegal immigration.
This was a man with a big tent mentality, not socially conservative, for weapons bans (or for them before he was against them, after he was for them again because he was a life long hunter, or shot at some squirrels once). He flip flopped and lied blatantly throughout the primary and it was BS him and the GOPe conveniently played fast and lose (which I didn't catch what had happened at first as I was deployed when the changes went into effect) in keeping Newt and Perry off the ballot....even though I wasn't in the Newt camp it was still crap that we didn't even have a choice.
Then after Romney won the primary system, he fumbled. He had one decent debate against 0bama and fizzled. He played cut throat when going after conservatives. Against 0bama he put on the kid gloves and the invisible magic negro glasses.
Romney was a younger version of "my friends" McCain, which is why his staff had so many form McCain staffers.