I agree. I really hoped he'd pick Romney or Huckabee - I think he'd have won the election with either.

William, I hate to say this, but I think Obama would have won regardless of whether McCain picked either Romney or Huckabee.

Just like there were so many "Reagan Democrats" in 1980 who were disillusioned with Carter, 2008 will long be remembered by many who felt disenfranchised by Bush. Some of the same Republicans who stuck with Bush in 2004, decided to switch to the Democrat side in 2008. So for many, Obama was a protest vote.

Maybe the vote would have been a tad closer had McCain picked someone other than Palin, but I seriously doubt McCain would have won.

(Hell, Obama picked a windbag like Biden and still won!)

I'm watching the Republican party this year - I hope someone strong emerges. I really don't think either Romney or Huckabee is electable. Pawlenty looks promising at times, but even supporters in his own state have questioned whether he'd be a good president. You look at governors in other states, and while a few look promising at times (Perry in Texas, Crist in Florida, and Jindal in Louisiana), I don't know if any of them can lead a party that is in far worse shape than the Republicans want to admit.

This is a weird time in U.S. history - a president who is in WAY over his head, and an opposing party that's in pieces right now. If there were ever a time for a good third party candidate (and not some whack-job like Ross Perot), it would be now.