THAT’S DEBATABLE:

Which Democrat — Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama — do you think would give the Republicans the toughest battle for the White House in the general election, and why?

Active members of either major political party are notoriously bad at picking opponents to beat in the other party.

One of the most famous examples was in the California governor’s race in 1966 when Democrats were desperate to run against the too-conservative actor Ronald Reagan because the moderate and popular Mayor George Christopher of San Francisco would be harder to beat.

They got their wish, but not the outcome they expected.

In 1992, many leading Republicans thought that little-known and inexperienced Bill Clinton would be easy to beat since, being from Arkansas, he had never really participated in big-time politics.

I am happy to tell you that Mitt Romney will be the strongest Republican candidate.

But history has shown that I am not in the best position to tell you which Democrat would be strongest or weakest.

John Campbell

(R-Newport Beach)

Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have equal strengths and weaknesses.

Hillary has the experience in government and politics.

Obama, on the other hand, has the advantage in personality and charisma but lacks the experience to hold the office of the presidency.

However, either one of them is likely to win if John McCain is the Republican nominee.

Close to 1/3 of the GOP base will stay home because there won’t be a true Republican to vote for.

Dana Rohrabacher

(R-Huntington Beach)