Will GOP Turn to Game Critic Mitt Romney in 2012?

The Republican party is in tatters following last week's presidential win by Barack Obama. Party officials are now trying to assess the damage and figure out how they might reconnect with the American electorate.

It's ridiculously early to make predictions about the next run for the White House, of course, but CNN speculates that 2012 might be Mitt Romney's year.

A Romney candidacy will be of concern to gamers. Among major Republican candidates in this year's race, Romney by far had the most negative view of video games, portraying them as part of an "ocean" of filth in which modern children swim. He also promised to legislate the sale of games.

From CNN:

Since the economy began its historic downturn six weeks ago, Romney's stock in his party appears to have skyrocketed. The former business consultant and founder of Bain Capital handled economic issues during his campaign with an ease and confidence that seemed to elude Sen. John McCain. As the stock market tanked throughout the fall, a growing chorus of conservative pundits speculated Romney would have boosted the GOP ticket considerably more than Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin did.

Now the onetime front-runner for the Republican nomination is schmoozing influential party insiders on the National Review's annual cruise -- a gathering of 700 conservative activists and the same forum where Palin wowed the movement's media elite last year...

But even as Romney publicly declares he has no intentions to run again, several former aides said they believe he will, and this week's get-together with leading conservatives is only the latest sign the man who spent more than $50 million of his own money to vie for the party's nomination last year is itching to do it again...