Republicans waiting for the next Reagan

"The [next] president needs to be a strong leader . . . somebody who's going to be able to pull the country together," said Susie Rommell, 54, an information technology trainer. She said she favors Giuliani but could change her mind.

"I want a strong conservative," said David Armstrong, 42, an accountant. He said he favors Thompson.

In a two-hour-long discussion organized by pollster Peter D. Hart for the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, a dozen GOP voters late this week discussed the issues on their minds, the qualities they want in a president and their uncertainty about their party's crop of candidates.

The country is not in good shape, they quickly agreed.

"We're in a lot of trouble," said Ted Lacy, 38, a software designer. "There's the war, especially, and we're spending more than we should."

"I don't want my grandchildren inheriting what we're setting up," said June Beninghove, 67, who described herself as a "full-time grandmother."

The daunting list of problems they talked about included not only the war in Iraq but the threat of terrorism, a flagging economy, illegal immigration and -- to some, at the root of it all -- declining moral values.

All 12 voted for George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004, but few were willing to offer much praise for him now.

"Mixed results," said Brian Matt, 48, a mortgage banker.

"Disappointment," sighed Ann Turner, 34, a fitness instructor. "I think we need a breath of fresh air."

Eight of the 12 said they want the next president to take the country in a direction different from the course Bush has set. But when it comes to the Republican candidates, most of these conservative voters haven't been won over by anyone.

"No standouts," said Jill Morley, 44, a schoolteacher, when asked to describe the GOP field.

"Second string," said Armstrong.

At the beginning of the evening, a straw poll around the table gave Giuliani four votes, Thompson three, Romney two and Sen. John McCain of Arizona two.

One of the participants didn't make a choice and, although Morley did, she said: "But I'm really undecided."

Several others nodded in sympathy.

Two hours later, when offered a choice between solely Giuliani and Thompson, nine of the 12 voters said they would probably pick Thompson.

Giuliani won praise for his toughness and his leadership in New York after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, but criticism for his moderate positions on abortion and civil unions for homosexuals.