Well, while i may accept that romney is 'conservative' now, my worry is will he stay that way? He hasn't proved that he's had a clear consistent ideolgy over time. WHat happens if say, a president romney has a diasterous midterm elections, then does he veer left on us to be reelected or something like that? Reagan was always reagan, even when sh#t hit the fan. One of the reasons i like allen is because he has always preached jeffersonian conservatism, since his first election as delegate. He didn't change during his time in office and is comitted to conservatism. Mccain prostitutes himself to whatever the media wants, rudy has never been a conservative or makes any bones to pretend to be one. Romney says he's one, but will he stay that way?
I'm still in the Allen camp, but right now he's in a proving ground for political stamina. If he rises beyond this (and stops apologizing for goodness sakes!) we'll know he's for real. If he can't, then I'm afraid '08 will be another "hold your nose" election like '96.