How embarassing they all are. I say amend the Constitution and add a minimal IQ requirement to the minimal age requirement. It that rules out most candidates save Bill Clinton, so be it: Amend to permit more than two terms of office as well. Or reelect Gore.

Alexander Hamilton, NYC, USA

Romney has "magic" underwear? Wonderful. Why should I care about that? Mormons also believe in receiving revelation from God. That might sound a pretty good characteristic for a future President. His religious beliefs should not play a part and the other candidates are not stupid enough to attack him on that.

Right now, if the Democrats pick either Clinton or Obama they will lose. As the Democrats will almost certainly pick one of those two, it leaves any running Republican knowing that, if they win the nomination, they have a great chance of winning the Presidency.

So that leaves McCain, Giuliani or Romney. Unfortunately for others, like Ron Paul, they're just not well known enough to win the nomination.

I hope for an Edwards vs Romney election. That would make things interesting.

Lloyd Stiles, Vienna, Austria

I think that if one looks at all of the candidates, and really close to what they do with their lives and how they treat others, I think that Mitt Romney probably is higher on the integrity scale than all others.

Dan D, Reno, Nevada

Ron Paul is the only man or woman who can save America and half of the Western world. Check him out. He's a saviour.

Dean Cavanagh, Bingley, UK

I think the U.S. may have the most insincere, two-faced and shallow politicians on the Planet...

Second only to Great Britain,of course...

Alan Henderson, Whitley Bay, England

The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is often accused of not believing in Christ and, therefore, not being a Christian religion. This article http://mormonsarechristian.blogspot.com/ helps to clarify such misconceptions by examining early Christianity's comprehension of baptism, the Godhead, the deity of Jesus Christ and His Atonement.”

Bot, South Carolina, USA

Mitt Rommel could win a general election when hell freezes over. Being a multi-billionaire and making populist reaction remarks doesn't quality you for president. Firstly, HIllary is about as centrist as a politician can be. Yeah, she was more anti-establishment when she was younger, but isn't most everyone? And yeah, Obama doesn't have a copious amount of experience in foreign affairs, but Mitt the Moron's being governor didn't quite supply him with that either.

BlueDog, Springfield,

As a US Republican who does NOT think that George Bush is the Devil Incarnate, I would say that we do not have the "perfect" candidate in the wings now, and I don't think he's out there - Fred Thompson flirted, but he's flirted too long, and I no longer think there's any substance there. I'm not crazy about Romney, but I think the attacks on his religion have been very shallow and unfair. We don't elect theological leaders here any more than we did when John Kennedy was running. McCain is a dead duck, and despite scattered support for other candidates, some of them very good, the race will be between Giuliani and Romney, and I wouldn't count Romney out.

Missourimule, St. Joseph, Missouri, USA

A 6 foot 2 handsome charismatic EMPTY SUIT who is about to fool Iowa.

Little Johnny, Scottsdale, AZ

This article might have mentioned that Romney - however smart he might be - has said some phenominally stupid things in the debates - for example claiming that the war in Iraq was necessessary because Saddam refused to let the UN inspectors in (factually dead wrong); repeating "he's forgotten about 9/11" again and again when Ron Paul was discussing Iraq, echoing the Bush administration's misdirection that Saddam was behind those attacks; and calling for a Guantanamo that is twice the current size, rather than closing it.

As a Mormon, Romney may have some odd beliefs and wear the bizzare "magic" underwear required of that faith, but that is not what makes a Romney presidency a frightning prospect

Soesterberg, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

As a political conservative - not necessarily a Republican but always an Independent - who a few decades ago was an avid socialist and very pro-abortion, I find Romney's change-of-heart on the abortion issue believable. As one ages, sees how the world really works (Marxists killed a few hundred million people last century), and reflects on the philosophical implications of pro-abortion public policies, it doesn't surprise me that an intelligent, thoughtful man like Romney might have a sincere change of heart.

Jay Hendon, Lake Oswego, Oregon

Vote for Ron Paul. He is the voice of truth and freedom. All others are showmen and greedy of power. They will ruin America! Please visit Ronpaul2008dotcom. Wake up!

Sam, Iowa, US

Tony Allen-Mills describes Romney as "eye-catching". He is "eye-catching" in a distorted, cartoonish sort of way.

This man is frightening in his utter hollowness. He is like a programmed robot - programmed to say whatever is politically expedient for the moment. He has been remaking himself to exactly fit the requirements of the very conservative Republican voter that is dominant in the primaries. If he wins the Republican nomination he will do another remake to become winnable in a presidential election. It will probably work - there is ample evidence that the formula for success in an American election is not much different than the formula for success in selling toothpaste.

David C Brown, nanaimo, british columbia, Canada

It's a pity that the run for political office is dominated by those who can deliver the best emotionally charged one-liners. Voters need a very limited understanding of the mechanics of governance to be lead around by the nose by the silver tongued devils. In fact the dumber the better. People are shocked when Ron Paul speaks mainly because they don't have even a rudamentary understanding of the issues he touches upon. It takes a fairly learned person to understand his position on the monetary system and interventionalist foreign policy as well as the historical perspective that motivates his strong leaning toward reliance on the Constitution as the foundation of our rule of law. The whole modern process of choosing elected officials is reflective of the immediate reward, cheap thrill value system we are subjugated by. Nobody really wants to take the time to educate themselves about these issues. Ready-made cliches and answers will effectively satisfy and pacify the masses.

Tom, Kennewick, WA

marxists killed...well extremism usually does kill. Nazism, or extreme right wing politics certainly accounted for one or two lives also. Just as extreme catholism (Spanish inquisition) once did and now extreme islam does. When bridges collapse, the cost of tax cuts becomes apparent, adopting your view of the world to be the equal to the way the "world really works" is both naive and arrogant. Intelligent thoughtful men eventually realise that regardless of the law, there will always be abortions whether people like them or not. Just as there will always be porstitutes and durg users. Intelligent thoughtful men might just come to the conclusion that for some social issues, the answer is not the morally satisfying fantasy land of the extreme view, it is merely the one that does the least harm.

lorddowneyrn, Savannah, Ga, US

Mitt Romney is the best Candidate to be the next President of United States. He got the qualities, the accomplishment, the leadership that would change Washington. He best represent the American people. I believe that the kind of leader we want to send in Washington, are the man of values, a man who has integrity, a man who loves his family, a man of service. I am tired of hearing backstubbing in media and other candidate. For me , I check the record and accomplishment. What he did when he was in the office,, and his record blow me away. Media should compare his accomplishment with any of the candidate and I bet no one can match what he accomplish in the last 5 years. Lets focus on that. Im tired of talking,,, I want some action. I dont look on what they say, but what they did when they are in office. They can demean his accomplishment by attacking him with false statements. But it all boils into one Check the record. Thats why I will vote for him, because I want the best !!

Helen Isernhagen, North Platte, Nebraska

Judging candidates too early leads to very poor voting choices. We need to hear all that a candidate says and then judge whether they are the one I feel most comfortable with. Like Dawn Pettengill I believe that Mitt Romney displays good judgement and the thoughtfulness I expect of my President. Hopefully he will continue to show what kind of a man he is, not just what he will be like when/if he gets elected. I am leaning in his direction and until he does something to upset me so much that I can no longer trust him I will keep leaning towards his election.

Rick from Bend Oregon

Rick Land, Bend, Oregon