The National Journal has polled party insiders concerning 2008. Here are some quotes.

On John McCain:

"Republicans usually nominate our front-runners, and people who have run before. We're the party of primogeniture."

"McCain's to lose, and he's capable of doing that with his call for more troops for Iraq. He's three years late, and he needs some fresh ideas--and someone to talk straight to him."

"An old, tired warhorse. A maverick Bob Dole. It is his turn and, unfortunately, he is the best we got."

On Mitt Romney:

"The breathtaking, self-inflicted collapse of George Allen moves Romney [into being] the main conservative alternative to McCain."

"He has the looks, the communication skills, the appeal to big donors, and the advantage of a large group of establishment figures and grassroots activists looking for an alternative to McCain."

[He's the GOP's strongest candidate] "because he comes from outside Washington, and the public's dim view of Congress is likely to get worse, not better, during the next two years."

[He's the GOP's strongest candidate because he] "can run as an outsider, but more importantly, as we have learned, our winning candidates come from the ranks of our governors."

On Romney's faith:

"This is very hard to figure out. This is a much bigger issue for Mitt Romney than it was for his father or Mo Udall. Why? I think it might be media hype" (from a Democrat).

"If he gets the nomination, it means he's put the issue to rest" (from a Republican).

"When Americans are reminded that the Constitution states there will be no religious test for candidates for public office, they will stop thinking about his religion" (from a Republican).

Obviously these aren't all the quotes; some were less favorable.