Gallup: Republicans don't like their presidential choices, but don't want a new one

Yep, GOP. You're stuck with them. (DonkeyHotey)

Yep, GOP. You're stuck with them. (DonkeyHotey)

Here's a conundrum for the Republicans: Republican voters don't like the choices for presidential candidates that they have, but they're also opposed to the only way the party can find a new candidate. That's according to a new USA Today/Gallup poll.

WASHINGTON – While most Republicans wish they had different choices in the party's presidential field, a nationwide USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds overwhelming resistance to the idea of an old-styled brokered convention that would pick some new contender as the nominee.

By 66%-29%, the Republicans and Republican-leaning independents surveyed say it would be better if one of the four candidates now running managed to secure enough delegates to clinch the nomination. [...]

There is undeniable dissatisfaction with the field. A 55% majority of Republicans say they wish someone else was running; 44% say they're pleased with the selection of candidates.

So a large majority wants another choice, but an even larger majority doesn't want to find that other choice the only way they can, through a brokered convention. That, apparently, is viewed as more damaging to the party than the insanely negative slugfest being played out now, the slugfest that's probably only going to make Republican-leaning independents even more turned off by the eventual GOP nominee.

The intensity gap the GOP has shown in this primary seems destined to plague the party in the general, as well, no matter who emerges out of this sorry crowd.