Part of the problem, notwithstanding Romney's ideology (what is it?), is that Romney and his wealthy buddies - thanks to the Citizens United decision - may just outright *buy* the election by outspending Obama. Romney and the super PACs that support him may be able to flood the airwaves with so much negative campaigning against Obama that Obama's message (for better or worse) can just get washed away. Maybe the upcoming debates will ameliorate that danger somewhat.

According to Harper's Index, 71% of the current U.S. debt was run up by Republican administrations (October 2011 issue. Their source was the New York Times, and their own research).

A return to Bush jr's economic policies, if that's what a Romney presidency would do, would be disastrous for the U.S.

Bush jr did however do a couple of positive things worth mentioning. During his administration, he budgeted more money for health related programs for people in Africa, and he budgeted more money for the Peace Corps than any president since the program's inception back in the early '60s. Go figure.