Conflicted GOP

In the past few elections, Republican presidential candidates have locked up the nomination by mid-March. There is a good chance that might not happen this year with no clear front-runner emerging among the four remaining contenders.

A protracted nominating process is generally frowned upon by party leaders since it can be divisive as candidates attack each other, diverting attention from their mutual opponent, President Obama.

Republicans, though, aren’t worried about that this year, according to a USA Today/Gallup Poll. Fifty-seven percent don’t believe the nominating battle is hurting the party even though they are far from settled on a candidate.

In fact, 55 percent of the Republicans wish they had other choices, but in a race between the two leading candidates, 50 percent favor Rick Santorum to 44 percent for Mitt Romney a week ahead of the Michigan primary.

Despite that preference, the majority believe Mr. Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, has a better chance of defeating President Obama, and a majority believe Mr. Romney is somewhat likely to be nominated.

“Republican voters are dissatisfied but enjoying the roller coaster ride,” said Mark McKinnon, a campaign strategist for George W. Bush. And it looks like they might be riding that roller coaster right through the summer.