Quote from Pa(b)st Prime:
While being a Mormon didn't help him he had far bigger problems. I'm a pretty good proxy for non-religious right Republicans and I'd analyze the selection process like this:
1. Romney's hawkishness coupled with none of his 5 sons serving in the military hurt. McCain was as immune from the "chickenhawk" charge as one could get.
2. Romney didn't distinguish himself in the debates.
3. He exited from the race perhaps too quick. Me thinks Bain took a big hit on the market turn and Romney's self-finance bravado was impacted.
4. His record as Mass gov was flip-floppy.
5. In a year that the center was pre-disposed to the Left, McCain was a safer bet to capture votes in the middle.
Bottom line: If not for McCain's generally bad debate performances, his ineptitude the week of the Stimulus Bill and Palin's gaffes in the Couric interview, the GOP still could have won.
I like Romney but I really don't think he would have made a difference.