Enthusiasm, what's that?
February 2, 2012 2:46 PM
So Mitt Romney has emerged the clear winner in Florida, the first "real" state to hold a primary.
His future looks bright. The golden ring could be within his grasp, failing major stumbles.
When his wife introduced him on stage Tuesday night as the next president of the United States, he indeed looked confident, at ease and - perhaps for the first time this primary season - rather presidential.
As Bob Martinez, the first Republican governor of Florida - and so a guy with considerable perspective - said, whoever has the money will win Florida. And Romney certainly had the money.
But for the first time since 1964, Martinez didn't back a candidate. This, despite visits early on from the Romney folks and later on from the Gingrich crew.
Whats that all about?
Well, he's not alone. Despite the millions of dollars spent, the media frenzy and the glowing Romney, there seems to be this nagging feeling in the Republican world that Romney and the entire field of GOP candidates are a bunch of second choices. They lack lustre.
Fred Barnes, executive editor of the conservative magazine The Weekly Standard, made that clear from the outset, before the primaries began in earnest.
"Some of us here at The Weekly Standard wish another candidate would get in," Barnes said in an interview, adding "it makes me feel that Republicans presented with this great opportunity to defeat Obama may blow it."
Indeed, that lack of candidate enthusiasm has continued through the first four primaries.
As a voter in Florida told me when I asked if he was happy with the pool of contenders, "Well," he said and paused, "you know," and he smiled, " I wouldn't have minded if Jeb Bush stepped up. Maybe a Jeb Bush/Chris Christy ticket would have been interesting," and he got a sparkle in his eyes.
To be clear,though, there is definite passion and enthusiasm to replace Obama. So many Republicans find themselves motivated to vote against Obama but still not necessarily FOR a candidate bearing the GOP standard.
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