Jon Chait begs to differ with Josh Marshall, and I tend to side with Chait:
To me, Romney’s phoniness is exactly why I’m not terrified of the prospect of him as president. I see him as a competent, moderate-minded manager who has decided his only chance of being elected is to masquerade as a whacko.
The drawback to Romney is also what he has going for him. The Christianists need to be careful. Once he’s gotten out of them what he needs, why do we think Romney would pursue the Christianist position in office? If he wins, it will be despite evangelicals, not because of them. He’s going nowhere in South Carolina. A chameleon can change color back, remember? (Think: the Clintons and the gays.) I’d also bet that if Romney gets through the primaries, and the question isn’t moot by then, he could easily pivot against the war and the surge – much more easily than McCain or Giuliani. Remember: he aims to please. Whomever he needs to.
The Dish 