There has been some overreaction to what Rick Santorum said yesterday about Obama being preferable to an etch a sketch candidate.

First of all, the former senator isn't saying anything that many of his supporters aren't saying. If Romney is the nominee, millions of "true" conservatives will stay home - which is virtually the same as casting a vote for the incumbent.

Secondly, and more importantly, without a core belief system, a politician will never be able to stand the gaff when Washington's partisan winds blow. Romney's beliefs are suspect because there is doubt about what he truly believes.

In a way, Santorum is right - but he never should have uttered the statement.

ABC News:

"You win by giving people a choice. You win by giving people the opportunity to see a different vision for our country, not someone who's just going to be a little different than the person in there. If you're going to be a little different, we might as well stay with what we have instead of taking a risk with what may be the Etch A Sketch candidate of the future," Santorum told a crowd at USAA.

During a press avail following the event, Santorum, who carried the Etch A Sketch during his speech, argued that Romney knows he can't win in the general election.

"All the things that allow Romney to win the primary are unavailable to him to win the general and that's why you see these Etch A Sketch comments because he knows he can't win," said Santorum.

As he spoke to a crowd which included people standing on other levels peering over the ledge to hear him, Santorum stressed the weight the Texas primary will carry on the overall race, saying the race will continue through Texas, whose large delegate count of 155 offers him the "opportunity to reset this race."

I don't think Obama is preferable to any Republican except perhaps Ron Paul. It's not just ideology. It really is a question of competence - something which Obama has a demonstrated lack. Romney has proved that he might be up to the requirements of the job, but he has failed so far to prove that he can assemble a winning coalition.

His etch a sketch comments won't make that any easier.