The reason Republicans are lukewarm (Cartoon, Economist, March10, 2012: 14) toward Romney is that his business experience is irrelevant to the problems being faced by the nation (Economist, March 10, 2012: 18).
Romney was very successful at the leveraged buyout. He made a lot of money from firms that amassed, at his instigation, a lot of debt, some of which was used to payoff the investors.
The problem, as Republicans see it, is that America has already amassed and is continuing to amass a lot of debt.
The Republicans would like to support a candidate who is skilled at paying down the debt.
Sent to the Economist