[pissant]

She also likes Hunter and has said so. Dollars to donuts if you asked her who whe wants to win rather than who she thinks could win, its Hunter.

[areafiftyone]

Well we will see. My instinct tells me Romney is her man. But heck I could be wrong. I'm not a fan of Ann anyway.

[LS]

Yes, she said exactly that. She called Hunter and Brownback "small pond" guys, and said she loved Hunter. But said we have to be realistic, and that realistically it was between Mitt, McCain, Rudy, and possibly Newt.

Being at C-PAC and talking to some people, I got a different sense: people want someone who will FIGHT and DEFEAT liberals---on SOME issues on the conservative agenda. So if, say, Rudy would take libs on over the Patriot Act/WoT/taxes and FIGHT, that would be sufficient, or if Mitt (as he promised) would veto spending and cut government and relish it, that would wash too.

People that I spoke to were hungry for someone who would FIGHT, not adopt a "new tone," not cooperate. That's why I said I thought Rudy's speech was mediocre. He had a lot of chances to "buff up" and whiffed. Mitt's talk was better, but still not hitting all the right notes.

Keep your eye on this dynamic, but from my perspective, it is this "issue" and no other traditionally "conservative" issue that is defining the nomination.

[CharlesWayneCT]

HUnter is better on the issues, but at the moment Romney is better as a leader.