[Utmost Certainty]

If anything, having any candidate at the top who leaves GOP voters with any sort of queasy feeling will lead to even greater voter intensity downballot.

Nah. If a lukewarm candidate (i.e, Romney) gets nominated, you just get lukewarm, middling intensity for everything else. Whereas having a real leader who can actually inspire, can yield great surges down ballot.

[greeneyes]

I think that Romney gives the Republican grass roots that queasy feeling. If the Pubbies “elite” really want the Senate, they better make darn sure that no Obama lite candidate heads the top of the ticket.

Besides, Conservatives are not going to continue on the Republican farm, if they don't sometimes get to vote for a real conservative. JMHO.